The surgeon who performed life-saving surgery on Max Johnson, a prominent advocate, was deeply moved upon learning about the heart donor’s story. Asif Hasan, a highly skilled medical professional with a career spanning back to 1991, has been instrumental in saving numerous lives through his exceptional work.
His groundbreaking surgery not only changed history but also played a key role in the implementation of a new organ donor law in England, named in honor of Max and his heart donor, Keira Ball, a young girl who tragically passed away in a car accident near her home in Devon.
At a charitable event organized by the Newcastle Hospitals in collaboration with the Children’s Heart Unit Fund, Mr. Hasan, alongside renowned author Dr. Rachel Clarke and Max’s mother, Emma Johnson, shared insights into the impactful surgery. Dr. Clarke, inspired by the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life initiative, penned the award-winning book ‘Story of a Heart,’ detailing the journey of Keira’s donated organ that saved Max’s life in 2017.
Reflecting on his work, Mr. Hasan expressed that the book was a tribute to Keira, highlighting the courage displayed by her family. He emphasized the need for emotional detachment in his profession to effectively handle the challenges of surgery and disease.
Dr. Clarke was touched by the heartwarming reunion between Keira’s family and Max, where they could hear Keira’s heart beating in his chest. She saw this as a unique opportunity to narrate the transplantation story through the lens of Keira’s heart.
Emma Johnson, Max’s mother, commended the dedicated medical team at the Freeman Hospital for their exceptional care. Emma, along with Max’s father, Paul, and brother, Harry, have been actively advocating for organ donation since Max’s life-changing surgery.
The Change the Law for Life campaign successfully introduced the opt-out system for organ donation in England in May 2020. Under this law, individuals are presumed to be donors unless they choose to opt out, with the consent of their loved ones always being prioritized before any donation occurs.
For more information on organ donation, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
