A son who donated a kidney to his father says he made the decision because he wanted to help "one of the people I love the most."
Ali Akhtar, 35, of Sheffield, made the selfless decision to donate a kidney to his father, Salim, in 2024, after remembering the impact kidney disease had on the family as a child.
Ali had always been aware that his dad, who had renal failure, may one day need another transplant after he initially had one from a deceased donor when Ali was a child.
He said: "My dad had renal failure since his early 30s when I was about 9. He was on dialysis and at the time it was very difficult to see him going through that, but thankfully he did receive a donor from the list and he went onto have a transplant and was well for many years. It changed his life and my family's.
"The burden of dialysis is incredible on body and mind – for my dad it was three hours a day, three days a week. Looking back, he tried to protect us from it but it meant we didn't have a lot of time with him because he was commuting daily to work in Leeds, then at the Northern General three times a week for dialysis. Mum was always there for us, in between working night shifts as a nurse."
Ali, who is a GP, said by 2023 his dad's kidney function was declining again and he was aware that he may end up back in kidney failure.
"I was well aware that he was going beyond what can be expected from a deceased donor kidney, and renal failure wasn't something that I wanted him and us to go through again.
"I am one of four brothers – we got together to look into how we could prevent that from happening and out of my brothers I was the one who was deemed the best match."
The transplant happened at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in August 2024.
"Of course, before the operation I had some apprehension, but the organ donation team were fantastic in talking me through the procedure and I have a huge appreciation of the amazing work that goes on at the Sheffield Kidney Institute. They gave me the opportunity to speak to people who had been through the process before, and I was able to have imaging and testing done on same day.
"I've got a wife, an eight year-old son and a four year-old daughter, and it was tough for them to see me going through it, but I had confidence two months down the line we'd be back to living a normal life. I can do all the things I could do before with no effect on my health. Although my daughter likes to remind me I only have one kidney!
"For dad, the improvement was immediate. More strength, more energy and more confidence in his health. He doesn't have to carry around that worry now. He can make plans to go on holiday, travel and spend time with grandchildren and make the most of that time."
Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients often have to wait significantly longer for a successful match than white patients, due to a shortage of suitably matched donors.
If more people with these ethnic backgrounds donated their organs after death, or as a living donor, then transplant waiting times would reduce.
Ali said: "I think for everyone it is important that there is education and awareness and understanding about what the benefits are of living organ donation and the importance of good matches. There is a huge amount of care and attention that goes in from the transplant team and the follow up that comes after. Although there is an impact at the time of the procedure, you can live a normal life after. I am eternally grateful to the whole transplant team for enabling me to fulfil what I believe was my duty to my father and help one of the people I love the most."
