The secret gift of life from Sion to his pal
THE life of a prominent Labour MP was saved by a secret “live” kidney transplant from one of the party’s brightest MEPs.
The incredible act of friendship between Khalid Mahmood and Sion Simon was unknown to even close colleagues.
Birmingham MP Khalid, Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Europe Minister, and Sion, a West Midlands MEP and minister in the last Labour Government, agreed to talk publicly for the first time to encourage others to donate organs and support our life-saving campaign.
Until today it was a mystery who provided the kidney for Khalid’s operation three years ago.
Complete renal failure in 2008 had been followed by six years of dialysis and two failed transplant matches – leaving him so sick he struggled to climb even a small flight of stairs.
Khalid, 56, whose twin brother’s kidneys packed in before he died of a heart attack, said: “It was a simple act of kindness and I owe him a debt of gratitude. I was quite flabbergasted.
“The decision is a huge one, to give one of your body parts to someone close, and for someone to take that decision is quite phenomenal.
“It was a very emotional time. I didn’t want to impose, so when Sion offered I was hesitant, shocked, but he insisted. I could never have asked.”
Sion, 49, joked: “I’m fine and Khalid has come back to life which is a mixed blessing, obviously.”
The pair have been friends for 20 years and the Labour MEP told how he decided over lunch in Shere Khan, a Pakistani restaurant in Birmingham’s Star City centre, that he could donate.
“I could see Khalid getting more and more sick and then he started to die,” he said. “It’s miraculous the difference it can make to the recipient and the difference it doesn’t make to the donor.
“I realised I could do it instead of waiting and expecting he’d receive a kidney from somebody else when that might never arrive. He hesitated and after a few weeks I said I’d ring them if he didn’t so we sort of did it together.”
The transplant was carried out in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital in January 2014 with the kidney removed from Sion immediately inserted into Khalid.
Other MPs and the public in Khalid’s Perry Barr constituency knew he’d had a successful op but not the involvement of Sion, who until 2010 was MP for Birmingham Erdington.
Their disclosure follows the Mirror’s revelation that Karie Murphy, Mr Corbyn’s chief of staff, donated a kidney to save the life of a Sunderland lad she’s never met.
Sion stresses he’s suffered no ill effects. He added: “I didn’t want a l fuss. It was between us, but when the Mirror ramped up its campaign, me and Khalid thought it was the moment to do the same. It’s very safe if the assessment process and appropriate checks are put in place.”
I realised I could help, instead of waiting for someone to donate
SION SIMON DONOR AND FORMER BIRMINGHAM MP RICE IDEA Shere Khan curry restaurant LIFESAVER Sion, right, gave friend Khalid one of his kidneys