Father’s Day gift: Son donates kidney to save man’s life

New Delhi: For most parents, giving their children a future is a lifelong commitment. In an exemplary reversal of roles, an 18-year-old son gifted his father a second chance at life by donating one of his kidneys, overcoming what doctors described as a complex surgery.Ahead of Father’s Day on June 21, the story of 49-year-old businessman Abid Raza and his son Ali has emerged as an inspiring reminder of family bonds. Abid was battling rapidly progressive kidney failure caused by a rare autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues. The condition severely damaged his kidneys, leaving him dependent on regular dialysis.“In March 2025, I developed kidney-related complications and my life changed completely.

I had to undergo dialysis three times a week,” recalled Abid. As his health deteriorated, a kidney transplant became his best hope for long-term survival and an improved quality of life. However, finding a suitable donor proved difficult.That is when his son stepped forward. Preparing to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree after scoring 92% in his Class XII examinations, he did not hesitate to volunteer as a donor.

“There was no other option. My father’s condition was worsening and I was the best match available in the family. There wasn’t much to think about. I knew I had to do it,” said Ali.However, medical tests revealed a major obstacle. Ali’s blood group was B-positive, while his father’s was O-positive — a combination that would ordinarily make a transplant medically incompatible.Under normal circumstances, the recipient’s immune system can identify the donor kidney as foreign and launch an attack against it, leading to rejection.

Doctors at Max Super Specialty Hospital, Patparganj, opted for an advanced procedure known as an ABO-incompatible kidney transplant.ABO refers to the blood-group system. In such cases, doctors use specialised treatments to reduce the recipient’s antibodies — proteins that would normally attack the donated organ. The process, known as desensitisation, often involves plasmapheresis, a procedure that filters harmful antibodies from the blood, along with medications that suppress immune responses before and after surgery.“ABO-incompatible transplantation is one of the major advances in transplant medicine that allows us to offer hope to patients who may otherwise struggle to find a suitable donor,” said Dr Ravi Kumar Singh, senior consultant of nephrology at the hospital.Dr Paresh Jain, senior director of urology and kidney transplant surgery, said the case stood out not only because of the medical challenge involved, but also because of the “extraordinary commitment shown by such a young donor”.

He added, “Organ donation is a profound act of generosity, and Ali’s decision reflected remarkable courage and maturity.”The transplant was successfully performed. The donated kidney began functioning immediately after surgery, a positive sign known as good graft function. Ali returned home four days after the donor surgery, while Abid was discharged within a week.