A heartwarming story of a hero grandad who selflessly donated his kidney to save the life of a complete stranger has emerged. David Meekin, 51, made the incredible decision to become a living organ donor after seeing a leaflet during a blood donation session.

David’s motivation to help others came after his sister Vikki tragically passed away from breast cancer at the young age of 27. Feeling powerless to do anything for her, David decided to start giving blood, as it was the only thing he could contribute that could potentially make a difference. “She told everyone how proud she was of me. I wanted to help people who had no choices, and it was the only thing I could do for her,” David shared.

It was during his 50th blood donation that David stumbled upon a leaflet about becoming a living organ donor. Intrigued by the idea and reassured by the relatively low risks involved, he made the decision to proceed without hesitation. “The best thing is you save someone else’s life. For me, it was a no brainer,” he explained.

After a year of contemplation and undergoing rigorous health tests and psychological evaluations, David found himself at Leeds General Infirmary in July 2018, preparing for the organ removal procedure. Despite some colleagues thinking he was “mad” for going through with it, David felt calm and confident in his choice. Trusting the medical team and knowing exactly what to expect, he walked into the operating theater with his donor coordinator and even joked about having a good sleep.

To his relief, the operation went smoothly, and David woke up in the recovery room feeling surprisingly good. “I had all the pain medication I needed, but I didn’t have pain. I was uncomfortable, but I was out of bed and walking around the same evening,” he said.

Throughout the entire process, David’s family and friends were tremendously supportive. He took the time to gather information and educate them about the safety of organ donation and how it would not adversely affect his own life in the long run. Only around 1,000 people in the UK choose to become living donors each year, making David’s selfless act all the more remarkable.

Since the surgery, David maintains regular contact with the donation team and even received a heartfelt thank you letter from the person who received his kidney. Knowing that his kidney, lovingly nicknamed George, is now living a new and healthy life brings David immense joy. “It cost me nothing but a little discomfort, but it allowed two of us to carry on living,” he reflected.

Despite the incredible impact he has made, David remains humble. He rejects the titles of hero or amazing, emphasizing that he did what needed to be done. His only regret is that he can only donate once. When asked if he would do it again, he replied without hesitation, “If I had the chance to be able to do it again, I would do it. My only disappointment being that I can only donate once.”

For anyone considering becoming a live organ donor, David’s advice is simple yet powerful: “Do it. You will not regret it. You’ll carry a warm feeling around with you for the rest of your life.”