A renowned surgeon, Asif Hasan, was deeply moved upon learning the heartwarming tale of his patient, Max Johnson, whose life he saved. Hasan’s remarkable career, which commenced in 1991, has been instrumental in saving numerous lives.
Speaking emotionally about a groundbreaking surgery that led to a change in organ donation legislation in England, Hasan’s contributions were honored through the Max and Keira’s Law. This law, named after Max and his heart donor Keira Ball, who tragically passed away in a car accident, marked a significant milestone in organ donation regulation.
At an event organized by the Newcastle Hospitals charity in collaboration with the Children’s Heart Unit Fund, Hasan, accompanied by best-selling author Dr. Rachel Clarke and Max’s mother Emma Johnson, shared insights into the life-changing operation. Dr. Clarke, inspired by the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign, penned the award-winning book ‘Story of a Heart,’ detailing Keira’s organ donation journey that saved Max’s life in 2017.
Hasan, reflecting on his work, highlighted the balance between caring for patients and maintaining emotional distance to effectively perform surgeries. Dr. Clarke was touched by the heartwarming reunion of Keira’s family with Max, emphasizing the extraordinary narrative of organ transplantation through Keira’s heart.
Emma Johnson praised the medical team at the Freeman Hospital for their unwavering support in caring for Max. She, along with Max’s father Paul and brother Harry, continues to advocate for organ donation awareness. The Change the Law for Life campaign successfully implemented an opt-out organ donation system in England in May 2020, where individuals are presumed donors unless they choose to opt out, with family consent always prioritized.
For more information on organ donation, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.