Many people in need of a transplant struggle to receive just one
organ, but an Indian photographer is now living with five kidneys.

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Doctors decided to leave the non-functioning kidneys inside Jaswant
Singh, 33, who has now had three transplant surgeries after the first
two donor organs failed.

Determined to “make it this time,” Jaswant received his latest kidney
from his 55-year-old mother, after previously being donated organs by
his two sisters.

Jaswant had his first transplant in 2002 after both his kidney’s
suddenly failed.

The organ, which was donated by his older sister, Harjindar Kaur, 36,
functioned for more than a year.

“However, my body rejected the kidney once I stopped post-operation
medication
because of financial constraints,” he said.

Two years later, Jaswant received another kidney, this time from his
younger sister, Ranvir Kaur, 27. After 14 months, he was placed back
on dialysis, after his body rejected the organ of yet another family
member.

While discussing his latest transplant, Jaswant cited his family’s
“determination to see me live,” adding, “this time my mother, 55, gave
me her bean shaped organ.”

Amar Kaur, 56, offered to donate knowing it was her son’s last chance.

“The new kidney is functioning properly so for,” said Jaswant. “But
presently I am on heavy medication. It will become more clear after I
cut down my medication in six months.

“It is very difficult to explain how much I have suffered. Sometimes I
could not work for months at a time. I couldn’t go far from my home or
eat outside.”

Doctors from India’s National Kidney Hospital were so moved by the
young photographer’s story and  the determination of his family, who
spent £11,500 (Rs 900,000), that they performed Jaswant’s most recent
transplant surgery for free.

“I was not able to afford the surgeries myself by running a
photography shop. But I am thankful to my family. They sold their
farmland to pay for my surgeries. My father sold about eight acres of
land. ”

Jaswant’s family makes a modest living – his brother is a driver and
his father sells milk.

“I hope my body doesn’t reject this kidney,” he said. I do not know
what to do if worse happens but still I have hopes on my family, on my
brother and father.

“My sisters and my mother happily donated their kidneys for me. They
were not scared at all and voluntarily did it.

“My sister told me, ‘You are my brother and I will try to save your
life even at the cost of my own life.’ This really moved me. I cannot
give them back anything in return.

“I cannot explain it in words and there is no way that I can pay them
back. My life is indebted to them and it is their greatness that I am
still living.”

Words by Sam Relph

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