South Asian Heritage Month
Free to be me
This year's South Asian Heritage Month theme is 'Free to be me' and how your experiences have helped shape you.
We want to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month by acknowledging and sharing the contributions people of South Asian heritage have made through organ donation, giving others the freedom to be themselves.
Since having both my transplants from my parents, I am free to be me and enjoy a normal active life
Akash, transplant recipient.
Aari Patel, from Croydon, was just three when he died following an accident at home. He donated seven of his organs and saved the lives of two other children.
For his parents, Jay and Sina, donating their son's organs was an instant decision. They approached hospital staff to see whether their son could become an organ donor.
Jay remembers: "The doctors were surprised we raised donation before being asked. But if Aari couldn’t be helped any further, Sina and I felt strongly that we wanted Aari to help others."
Jay and Sina are Hindus and feel it’s important to talk about organ donation within your community. There may be a number of considerations, such as whether your faith supports donation.
Jay said: "Too many people say no to donation because they think their faith prevents it. There are myths and misunderstandings.
"We must talk more about the subject with those we love, family and friends, young and old. If more people in our communities supported organ donation, more lives in our communities would be saved."
Aky and Tina both donated their kidneys to their son, Akash, after he was born with polycystic kidneys. Aky remembers:
"He went on dialysis and had numerous operations. In 2004 Tina donated her kidney as I was not compatible due to my blood group being different.
Aky continues, "This changed Akash's life and he could live a normal life to a point. He had a wonderful 11 years but unfortunately had to go back on dialysis."
After speaking to a consultant about options for Akash to receive a transplant, Aky found there was a way he could donate by suppressing Akash's immune system. After undergoing the necessary tests, Aky donated his kidney in 2015.
Since receiving his transplants, Akash shares "Whilst waiting for my transplant I could never be myself, however since having both my transplants from my parents, I am free to be me and enjoy a normal active life."
Why does ethnicity matter for organ donation?
For many people in need of a transplant the best match will come from a donor from the same ethnic background.
People of South Asian heritage often have to wait significantly longer for a successful match, due to a shortage of suitably matched donors.
If you're of South Asian heritage, you could help someone on the waiting list by registering to become an organ donor or volunteering as a living donor.
