Durban man: "I am eternally grateful to my wife for giving me the gift of life"
A husband from Mount Edgecombe shares his story of hope and love about the gift of life that his wife gave him...
August is Organ Donor Month and we wanted to shed some light on a story that both inspired us and gave us some hope when it comes to the many people that face organ failure.
Deven Naidu, a father and husband from Mount Edgecombe, started suffering from high blood pressure in 2011. He didn't realise that this condition would change his life forever.
"In South Africa more than 1 in 3 adults live with high blood pressure and it is responsible for 1 in every 2 strokes and 2 in every 5 heart attacks. High blood pressure is known as a 'silent killer' because there are rarely any symptoms or visible signs to warn that blood pressure is high," the Heart Foundation states.
Deven's condition turned out to be hurting his body more than he realised. The spikes in his blood pressure were causing his kidneys to fail, which led to doctors telling him that he would need to be on dialysis.
Deven's wife, Raveena Naidu, suggested a kidney transplant, but he was reluctant about this as it wasn't as straightforward as it sounds. Nevertheless, she decided to get tested to find out if she was a match.
While I kept saying no to my wife, she kept researching and was adamant that she wanted to donate her kidney to me. I eventually agreed and so our journey began. She was a match and in February 2012, the transplant was done. We took several months to recover. I turned 50 in June and had it not been for my wife giving me her kidney, I would not be here to tell my story.
Deven speaks about the odds of finding a match with your partner, it's not something that happens often, which makes it so much more inspiring. It was meant to be, she was meant to be his saviour, and the sentiment behind it all is amazing. They now share more than just a relationship as husband and wife, they are connected on a much deeper level.
After the transplant, his life went back to normal. He got back into sports and was living a renewed life. He has consequently stopped sports since COVID-19 arrived, but shares that his mindset about life has shifted.
Life went back to normal, but it’s also changed ironically. I see life differently. My mindset has changed and I now all that matters to me is family and spending as much time with them as I can. I would like to thank my wife and daughter, Aradhana, for always being there for me throughout this journey. They were my support structure and they helped me fight on. I am also grateful to my work family for their continuous support, and my family and friends too.
His wife shared some motivational words to those that are facing organ issues.
"When faced with end stage renal disease your world is crashing, but don’t loose hope. Pray and never give up. It was a long journey before and after our transplant with many obstacles. To those who are in a similar situation support, patience, and courage is of utmost importance. I wish everyone who needs an organ receives one. Save a life – that’s what matters," she told North Glen News.
Deven and his family encourage everyone to become a donor if possible, it can help someone who really needs a lifeline.
He encourages organ transplantees to join SATSA. To become an organ donor, follow the link www.odf.org.za
