I gave my kidney to a stranger after receiving a random email

For Paul, donating his left kidney was a no brainer (Picture: Getty) Not all heroes wear capes… our Unsung Heroes series celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary work. Imagine saving someone’s life, even though you’ll never meet them. That’s the reality for altruistic kidney donor, Paul Hawthorne, 70, from Stratford-upon-Avon, who donated his left kidney to a stranger in 2024. ‘I know the recipient of my kidney is a woman who lives in the south of England – and, importantly, the transplant was successful. But that’s all. ‘It’s actually very normal not to want to meet your donor. Receiving a kidney is far more traumatic than donating one,’ he explains. Paul was inspired by his late wife who sadly was diagnosed with breast cancer (Picture: Supplied) The operation took place at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. As for why his left kidney was chosen – it was just easier for surgeons to reach. But Paul had a very personal reason for wanting to do such a visceral good deed for a stranger. ‘My wife, Claire, was a huge inspiration. She passed away 10 years ago from breast cancer. During her illness, she helped numerous other women with cancer, through support groups and charity events. She was a very giving person. I wanted to do something good in her memory,’ he says. Paul’s journey to becoming a living organ donor began when he received an email from the blood bank, where he already regularly donated, asking if he’d ever considered organ donation. ‘I’m a curious person,’ says Paul, ‘so the next minute I was filling out forms and heading for a hospital check-up.’ The moment that Paul finally made up his mind to donate is crystal clear in his memory (Picture: Getty) Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. During the process of making the big decision to go under the surgeon’s knife, with potential impacts on his health, doubts did set in. Especially when his daughter-in-law, who is a nurse, called into question his choice. ‘She made me stop and think about what I was doing. What if one of my grandchildren needs a kidney in future? In the end, I thought if “I don’t do it now, I never will”. I could spend my whole life wondering,’ he says. After that, his whole family got behind him, perhaps just quietly wondering ‘what on earth is dad up to now?’ Paul’s nurse daughter-in-law stepped up to take care of him brilliantly during recovery. The moment that Paul finally made up his mind to donate is crystal clear in his memory. ‘It was when I found out my donation would unlock a chain of donations. So, it would become knock-on effect of good deeds,’ he says. That happens when family members need a kidney for a loved one but aren’t a match. So, they use an altruistic donor, like Paul, but in return they commit to donating a kidney themselves to somebody else. It’s called a kidney transplant chain. Paul’s decision to donate his kidney unlocked a six-person chain of donatioms (Picture: Getty Images) On the day of surgery, Paul felt emotional. Six other kidney operations were happening alongside his own. Three donors and three recipients. Paul’s donation had unlocked the chain for those donations to happen. While chatting to an 80-year-old man on the same hospital ward, who was having kidney dialysis, Paul began to understand the huge positive impact his donation would have on someone’s life. The man had been waiting for a donor for years. Being on dialysis affected every aspect of the man’s life, including being on a restricted diet and not being able to travel to see family. ‘That kind of blew me away. I did cry a bit,’ he confesses. Before he got to the operating theatre, Paul had to have a barrage of scans, blood tests and psychological evaluations to check his suitability to being a living organ donor. He was even injected with radioactive fluid to check his kidney function, which was a bizarre experience but not as risky as it sounds. None of that fazed him, in fact Paul said it was ‘the best MOT your body can have’ and was delighted when doctors reported back he had perfect kidneys. Paul has never regretted the decision (Picture: Getty Images) Indeed, he never considered backing out. When doctors made clear he could change his mind at any point, he said: ‘I’m a Harley Davidson rider. That’s more dangerous than anything you’re going to do to me!’ And he was right. Recovery was smooth for fit and healthy Paul, who is a plasterer by trade. He had about 10 weeks off of work and found the hardest bit was the boredom factor. But his friends at the Harley Owners Group chapter in Birmingham, where Paul is a member, kept his spirits up. ‘They’re a bunch of hairy bikers, with big hearts who’ve been so supportive. They gave me an award for Outstanding Contribution to Mankind. And I was in tears!,’ says Paul. Now, when Paul thinks back on the experience, how does it feel save a life? ‘I didn’t think about it like that at first, but then my youngest son, Nathen, told me: you’re not only changing one person’s life, Dad, it’s their whole family too.’ Deals of the Day Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather I’ve found the Hoover gadget that could make cleaning your floors so much easier I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Find out about kidney donation at donateakidney.co.uk Arrow MORE: Ray J, 45, rushed to hospital during livestream after claiming he had ‘months to live’ Arrow MORE: Christa Pike is the first person ever to survive two lethal injections — here’s how Arrow MORE: Itchy parasitic mites that lay eggs under your skin are infesting the UK The Slice Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.