Donating a kidney @ 83!

Yes, you’ve heard it right. Very recently Mr. Nicholas Crace of Overton in Hampshire became the oldest living kidney donor at the ripe old age of 83.

And as you may have rightly guessed, he had a history of donating blood. But then he was refused such pleasure when he went past 70. An enquiry as to whether he could donate bone marrow brought further heart ache, people beyond 40 are not eligible for the same.

His hope got a boost when he heard that there is no age limit for donating a kidney. Yet considering his age he had to visit the hospital more than a dozen times to qualify as a donor and finally he did gift a part of him- one of his kidneys- to someone whom he would never see in his life time and who has no relation to him. What a holistic way of donating!

Most of us are aware that that, kidney from a live donor performs better, works quicker and lasts longer than that from a cadaver. And hundreds of thousands of patients are waiting for organ donation.

Post operation, for the donation, Mr. Crace is going great and he still does all his work and leads a normal life. But no longer would he remain a normal person, for he has become a real hero! What a great relief to have such real heroes, who through their quintessential ways create so much value and bolster our faith in the fable “The good Samaritans”!

 Mr. Crace, hats off to you! It was not just an organ donation, it was a great message. Sure this would inspire millions to come out and donate organs so that we could alleviate the pains of our fellow human beings.

Yesterday I was asked if I could donate my blood in a blood donation camp and now I am looking forward to have that needle pricked into my veins tomorrow- 19 May 2012- so that we’d keep this humane tradition alive and march ahead and ahead. Amen!

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18104556