Aari's story
Aari saved the lives of two children after he died following an accident at home.
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.
We did not want another family to suffer losing their child or loved one.Jay
Aari's dad
Says Sina: “I didn’t realise how rare it is for a child to donate their organs. I thought it was quite a normal thing to do.”
Jay and Sina received a letter telling them Aari’s organs had saved the lives of a boy and a girl.
“Aari was our shining star, and it is an enormous comfort to know he helped those two children,” says Jay.
Watch Aari's story
Why ethnicity matters in organ donation
Often people don’t understand that people from Black and Asian communities are more likely to need an organ transplant and wait longer than white patients for kidney transplants due to a shortage of donors from their community.
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.”
