Asif Hasan spoke movingly of the op which changed history, and saw a new organ donor law in England. He has carried out hundreds of transplants in his career.
The surgeon who saved the life of Mirror campaigner Max Johnson wept when he read the story of his heart donor.
The prodigious work of Asif Hasan has saved countless lives in a career which began way back in 1991.
He spoke movingly of the operation which helped to change history, and saw a new organ donor law in England.
It was named in honour of Max, of Winsford, Cheshire, and his heart donor Keira Ball, who died in a car accident near her Devon home.
Mr Hasan appeared alongside Dr Rachel Clarke, the best selling author, and Max’s mum Emma Johnson at an event held by the Newcastle Hospitals charity in colloboration with the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.
Rachel told how she was inspired by the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life crusade to write the award winning ‘Story of a Heart’.
It recounts in vivid detail the journey made by the organ donated by the family of nine-year-old Keira. It saved the life of Max in 2017; he, too, was just nine years old.
Mr Hasan, 69, said: “For me it is a book all about Keira.
“I had not read her story. That poignancy that we talked about, for me the word courage is defined in the book. “It is personified in Keira and her family. That touched me and stayed with me.”
Explaining his life saving work, he added: “I have to care, but not care too much. I have to draw this line as I have to deal with the disease. You always worry about danger.
“As a surgeon, if you get too emotional, you cannot work, so you have to be able to take away the emotional side of things.”
Dr Clarke was moved by our story about Keira’s parents and siblings meeting Max. Joe and Loanna Ball, Keira’s brother Bradley, then just eight years old, and sisters Katelyn and Keely, who were 12 and 13, listened to her heart beating in Max’s chest.
Dr Clarke recalled: “I thought this was an incredible opportunity to tell the story of transplantation through the extraordinary journey of one little girl’s heart.”
Max’s mum Emma Johnson paid tribute to the ‘family’ of doctors, nurses and medics at the Freeman who had cared for Max.
Emma has campaigned ever since to promote organ donation alongside Max’s dad Paul, and brother Harry.
Our Change the Law for Life campaign brought the opt out system to England for organ donation in May, 2020.
The new law means people are presumed to be donors in England unless they opt out of the system, though the consent of loved ones is always sought before any donation is made.
*Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
