‘I even considered ending my life’

When Johnson Mudaliyar was diagnosed with kidney failure, his parents were ruled out for transplant owing to high blood pressure and diabetes. The Mira Road resident then registered himself with the ZTCC.

When Johnson Mudaliyar was diagnosed with kidney failure, his parents were ruled out for transplant owing to high blood pressure and diabetes. The Mira Road resident then registered himself with the ZTCC.

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He finally got a donor after seven-and-a-half years of painful and expensive dialysis. During this period, he gave up his job, contracted multiple infections through contaminated blood and saw his social life shrink.

When an infection caused by rust in a dialysis machine left him paralysed, he even considered ending his life. “However, I told myself that I would get a transplant,” said Mudaliyar.

Life has not been easy even after the transplant. “The medicines make me drowsy and weak so I still can’t get a job or have a social life. But the doctor says I’ll be clear of the medicines in another six weeks.” Johnson now hopes to complete his graduation and leave behind the trauma-filled years.