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When Dishna Hirani, she found out her mum needed helpif,ic was prepared to make any sacr e...
WORDS BY HANNAH POON AND HARRIET ROSE-GALE PHOTOS: SWNS
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itting on the sofa in October 2018, surrounded by my entire family, it was one of the happiest days of my life. My three sisters had thrown me and my mum, Prevanda, 63, a surprise party for both of our birthdays. It was a little early considering my 40th wasn’t for another two weeks in November and Mum’s wasn’t for another few days. But it was the only opportunity me and Mum had to celebrate. You see, on 31 October 2018, on Mum’s actual birthday, we’d be heading to Hammersmith Hospital to undergo surgery. I would be giving her my birthday present - a kidney. Mum had been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease in 2006, after suffering with tiredness and fatigue. As her health deteriorated, she grew short of breath and had to take things slow. Only, as a mother of four and a grandmother to nine, she was completely resilient. ‘No, I’m fine,’ she’d say whenever one of us tried to help her. She was remarkable and she never gave up. Instead, she just took 30
things slow and steady. As the years went by, Mum had to go for regular blood tests at the hospital to check on her creatinine levels and general health. If her kidney became impaired for any reason, the creatinine levels in her blood would rise, so it was crucial that it was checked thoroughly. ‘She may need a transplant, but for the moment we just need to keep an eye on her,’ the doctors told us to begin with. Over time, we all became accustomed to Mum’s health. She never let it get her down, so we didn’t worry. Her skin started to look a little dull and she would get out of breath, but she was as strong
as ever before. Only, in 2017, at one of her regular blood tests, doctors noticed something alarming. I wasn’t scared ‘Your creatini levels are signifi higher than usu doctor told Mum ‘What does th asked, concerned. ‘She will need a transplant or her the best chance. So, I went home that night risk spending the rest of her life and discussed it with my on dialysis,’ he warned us. husband, Mehul, 41. Although we knew the risk ‘I think it’s a great idea,’ he was there, we never imagined beamed with pride. the day would come. I knew Mum was hesitant at ‘And how long will that the idea. take?’ I asked, knowing that Afterall, why would she want people can be on waiting lists to accept a kidney from her for years. own daughter? ‘I will be honest with you, As a mother of two he chances of boys myself, I could eceiving a donor understand how she rom ethnic felt, but I wanted to minorities are do this. lim,’ the doctor It was the only way. xplained. ‘Her Afterall, Mum was best option is a the best. iving donation.’ She’s always been As his words family orientated and unk in, I knew put everyone before herself. what I had to do. Now, it was my chance to ‘I’ll get tested to see if I’m a give her something back. match,’ I jumped in. So, that night, I phoned my ‘No you will not,’ Mum three sisters and spoke it fretted, but I’d already made through with them. up my mind. ‘If I don’t turn out to be a ‘There’s no harm in getting match, there is no pressure on the tests done,’ I told her. you,’ I told them. Mum was reluctant, but I wasn’t doing this to get one the doctor agreed that a up on them – I was just doing it living donation from a for Mum. And so, a few weeks family member would give
I knew I had to help my mum
We could see the effects instantly
