Abu Dhabi: ‘I lost my mother to kidney failure when I was just eight years old. She was only 40. So when I heard that my brother might suffer the same fate, there simply was nothing to consider,’ Kamal Masri, the 26-year-old civil engineer from Palestine, told Gulf News.
He donated one of his kidneys to his 33-year-old brother, Amir Masri, in a transplant surgery in May at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City. And when the brothers finally met two days after the procedure, it was an extremely emotional moment.
“I was worried I would not live to see my five-year-old daughter grow up,” said Amir. “Now, I can hope again. The procedure has changed my life, and if I could donate my organs to save another person’s life, I would,” he said.
Amir had long known that he would eventually need a transplant. His declining kidney function was diagnosed six years ago after a urine infection.
- Kamal Masri | Donor and brother of Amir Masri
Life had become an uphill climb, with Amir having to cut out meat and nearly all protein from his diet, all the while battling frequent infections and experiencing constant fatigue.
Then in June 2017, doctors told him that he might have to seriously consider getting a transplant soon.
“In January 2018, my kidneys were functioning at just 10 per cent, and I needed to either get a transplant or go on regular dialysis,” Amir said.
For Kamal, seeing his brother undergo the pain and anxiety was extremely disturbing. He didn’t want his brother to undergo the hassle of dialysis and the regular trips to the dialysis centre, having to wait for the procedure to be completed each time and the all the pain and discomfort.
“I thought to myself, ‘If I can give a new lease of life to my family member, why not?’
“Of course, I did have to convince my brother and family members, but it was Ramadan, and we were all hopeful that things would go well. In addition, the doctors at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City took very good care of us and assuaged our fears by helping us meet other transplant patients and organ donors.” he said.
Amir was discharged from the hospital about a week after the procedure, and now follows up with a doctor twice a week. While it will take a while longer for him to be fully fit, he says he can now savour his favourite meat dishes again, and is able to walk and undertake normal activities with ease.
“I am feeling better every day, and can truly enjoy life with my family thanks to this gift.”
