'Maverick is a miracle': Cork mum with kidney disease says she hopes her story helps others 

“Don’t become the patient.”

That one piece of advice from her brother would go on to shape Triona Murphy’s entire approach to life.

It’s something she still carries with her. Through hospital corridors, daily routines, and into the heart of motherhood.

Triona is a 35-year-old psychiatric nurse from Cobh and mother to Maverick, or ‘Mav’ as she affectionately calls him.

Her story is one of survival, hope, and extraordinary resilience, particularly in the face of kidney failure that nearly changed her life forever.

“I developed Crohn’s disease when I was 19,” said Triona. “Four years later, I was told my kidneys were failing. It turned out the medication I was on had a 0.05% chance of causing renal failure.”

Triona compares the odds to almost those of winning the lotto and adds: “The symptoms of Crohn’s and kidney problems were so similar that by the time it was picked up, I was near end-stage failure.”

She has now lived with just 20% kidney function for more than a decade.

Triona has been medication-free for nearly eight years. “I’m not anti-medicine, but I try to live as healthily as I can. I fight with a healthy lifestyle instead,” she explains.

Her partner Niall is a qualified life coach, and together they lead what she describes as a mindful, balanced life. One full of homemade meals, long walks, and moments that matter. “We don’t eat sugar or processed food. Everything is made from scratch.”

Triona laughs as she remembers Maverick’s first food. “It was a T-bone steak. He was only six months old. Not that he ate it properly! But we like to feed him well. He probably has the best diet in the world.”

But Maverick is a miracle in every sense. “I was basically told I wouldn’t be able to be a mum,” she said. “If I got pregnant, they said I wouldn’t carry past 22 weeks. My kidneys would fail. I’d be on dialysis six days a week for six hours a day.”

Despite the warnings, she never gave up hope. “They gave me a tour of the dialysis ward to prepare me, but I just had this feeling. Every week I went in for scans and bloods, and every week everything stayed stable. In fact, my kidney function improved slightly.”

Triona gave birth naturally at 38 weeks. “It was a calm, grounded labour. No interventions. The doctors and nurses couldn’t believe it.”

Her pregnancy came just four weeks after her mother passed away from early-onset dementia. “I was still grieving when I found out I was pregnant. It was a whirlwind. My mum had been sick for a long time. We cared for her at home for nearly ten years.

“I really believe she was watching over us. I don’t know where I stand on spirituality exactly, but I always say that Maverick is a gift. And my mum had a job to do.”

Now on a career break, Triona is focusing on being a full-time mum. “These years are so special. I just want to be present, to enjoy raising him.”

Her mindset is shaped by resilience and the importance of small victories.

“When I first got sick, my brother told me, ‘Don’t become the patient’. That stuck with me. Life keeps spinning, and you have to find your wins. Even if they’re just making dinner, going for a walk, or watching Maverick throw stones into the sea.”

She and Niall monitored everything during the pregnancy. 

“We looked at my bloods and tailored my diet to support both me and the baby. His support was everything. Emotionally. Practically. He never missed an appointment.”

Triona has kept everything from those early days, including tiny premature baby vests they thought Maverick would need. “They said he’d be born around two or three pounds. I kept them all, and I’m stitching them into a blanket. A resilient blanket.”

She’s had people reach out to her since sharing her story and welcomes more.

“If it helps even one person feel less alone, then I’m happy. I’m not looking for praise. I just know how isolating illness and loss can be.”

“Maverick is a miracle,” Triona said again, smiling. “And I know my mum is watching over us.”