That’s exactly what Ray Coe did. When he found out that 13-year-old Alya Ahmed Ali, a pupil at the Royal Docks Community School in east London, needed help, he ‘knew it was the right thing to do.’
Ray, 53, is a special education needs coordinator at the school, which Alya attends as she suffers from a condition called hydrocephalus, which has caused her to have severe learning difficulties.
When he was told that Alya needed the transplant to save her life, he offered his own kidney.
He said: “When we told Alya, she just gave me a big squeeze and her face lit up. It brings tears to my eyes whenever I think of that.
“For her parents, it’s not words that can express their gratitude. For them I have saved their daughter’s life. It’s like I am another family member now.”
The transplant was a success, and both Alya and Ray will be returning to school following the Easter break.
Alya’s father Ahmed Ali said that Ray was a ‘hero’, adding that he is an ‘amazing man.’
We couldn’t agree more!