A doctor went far and beyond his call of duty to save his patient’s life. Nephrologist Dr. Aji Djamali gave a priceless gift to his patient by donating his own kidney.
As a kidney specialist, Dr. Djamali is well aware of how difficult it is to look for an organ donor. He is also very much impressed with the bravery of donors who selflessly give a part of themselves to help others in need.
He was quoted in a report by the Press Herald saying, “I was always in awe of their courage and how they were stepping up and being selfless and going through something they didn’t have to, to help another human being.”
The kind doctor said he often wondered how being a donor felt.
He added, “And I always wondered if I would be able to walk the walk because I’m the adviser, right? I’m talking to these candidates, going through risks and benefits, but do I really know what I’m talking about?”
In an unexpected but heartwarming twist of events, Dr. Djamali finally had the perfect opportunity to become a donor when he met a 53-year-old patient named John Jartz.
John had been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a hereditary disease that causes the kidney to enlarge and stop functioning. As John became Dr. Djamali’s patient, they started to build a friendship over the years.
Dr. Djamali recalled his conversation with John when he finally told him he had found the right donor for him. John replied, “Oh yeah, who?” The physician simply replied, “Me!‘
In June 2022, Dr. Djamali underwent an operation to have his right kidney removed and transferred to his good friend.
According to a report from People, Dr. Djamali wanted to share his story to help raise awareness of the impact of organ donation. He explained that organ donation saves not just a patient’s life but also transforms the donor’s life for the better.
“I knew I was already making a difference,” the kind doctor said.
Truly, a one-of-a-kind story that will inspire us to go above and beyond to help those in need. Faith in humanity restored!
