World’s most generous man
moved by the Hope4anaya appeal. NHS radiographer Surinder Sapal, 36, from Wakefield, West Yorks, also volunteered. And the mum-of-two proved the perfect match.
After the transplant, Surinder and Anaya met and shared their story with the Daily Mirror.
Doctors then asked Azeem if he would donate to another stranger who was a better match. Naturally, he did not hesitate to say yes.
Azeem had surgery to remove his kidney last September and it was transplanted the same day.
The four-hour operation left him bloated and uncomfortable, but the next morning he “was eating cake, jelly, and ice cream”.
“Two-and-a-half days after the operation I was walking around and they said I could go home. I was running within eight weeks,” he said.
“I just have to avoid impact injuries, such as getting into car crashes, but I try to avoid that anyway.”
Azeem has since met Anaya’s parents and swaps messages with them and Surinder. Last month he held a Twitter takeover to mark the first anniversary of their appeal.
Anaya’s mum, Joety, said: “Azeem is an amazing person, we have the utmost respect for what he has done. We are so happy someone else was able to receive that gift of life.”
Azeem’s decade of giving began in 2010 when he donated stem cells, six years after joining the Anthony Nolan register.
As with organ donation, the odds are stacked against black and Asian patients.
A shortage of donors means they only have a 20% chance of an ideal match, while white Europeans have a 70% chance.
Azeem said: “I had absolutely no information about my recipient –I still don’t. I had my last update from Anthony Nolan two years later and they were still alive.
“Whoever it was, I know that transplant gave them at least two extra years, which is wonderful.” And after all that, giving blood was an easy choice for
Anaya, three, found a perfect match
Azeem to make. Following in the footsteps of his dad, Nadeem, a regular donor, he has donated 10 times already and does so every four months. Each pint can save up to three lives.
And his unbelievable generosity will continue – even after he dies.
Azeem said: “After I donated my kidney, I checked whether I was registered to be an organ donor after I die and realised I wasn’t. I opted in straight away. It’s an incredible gift to give.”
Henny Braund, chief executive at Anthony Nolan, said Azeem’s “selflessness is truly inspiring”.
He said “We particularly need people like Azeem from ethnic minority backgrounds to sign up, to ensure we find a match for everyone who needs one.”