Mum of kidney transplant survivor from East Ham appeals for life-saving blood donors
Murad Shaikh is appealing for blood donors to help his kidney transplant which he had ten years ago. Pictured with his Mum Gowhar - Credit: Archant
The mum of Murad Shaikh, an 18-year-old from East Ham with a rare kidney and blood disorder, is appealing for people to donate blood.
The mother of Murad Shaikh, an 18-year-old from East Ham with a rare kidney and blood disorder, is appealing for people to donate blood.
In 2008, Murad underwent a kidney transplant at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and has had 13 biopsies since.
Gowhar, from Whitechapel, said her and the family have given blood, and admitted Murad wouldn’t have survived without others’ donations.
“He had a kidney from a 45-year-old and that person must have been on the donor list,” she said.
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“There are so many people in the hospital who need blood, so it’s really important people donate.
“Just one pint of blood can save the lives of six babies.”
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“It only takes 45 minutes and it doesn’t hurt.”
When Murad was born in Guy’s Hospital in central London, doctors gave him just two days to live.
He suffered from Fanconi anaemia, a rare form of kidney and blood disorder.
Throughout his life, he’s undergone 30 different surgeries, under both general and local anaesthetic.
“It has been very hard but I’m amazed at how he copes.” Gowhar said.
“I always say, he might be little in body but he’s big in personality.”
Murad went to Cowes Primary before going on to Langdon Secondary School, where he did entry level qualifications in English and Maths.
He left at 16 and now studies at Stratford College, with a special interest in the environment.
“Murad loves singing, but he’s also interested in fundraising,” Gowhar said.
“He’s spent a lot of time at Richard House Hospice, because he’s been going there all his life – he was one of the first to get a nurse come to the house to help with his medical issues.”
In 2012 Murad had a nine-hour operation on his appendix, where doctors made a permanent hole in his belly button and pressure was put on his bladder so that he could use a catheter.
And while the transplant was a success, he goes to the hospital for monthly checkups, and still gets medication delivered to the house.
In 2016, the Recorder reported on Murad’s meeting with his favourite Pakistani singer Abrar al Haq, and in 2016, he met Nicole Scherzinger.
