They have been best friends since childhood and were best man at each other’s weddings but now one has saved the other’s life by being his live kidney donor.
After 47-year-old John Relf from Barry was diagnosed with kidney failure three years ago and when his condition deteriorated, doctors told him he would need a transplant.
But the kidney needed to come from a live donor.
John asked his two brothers but neither were matches.
His wife June took the test but results showed she was not a match either.
John said: “I was talking to my friend, Kaid, about it. I thought that was the end of any hope of me getting a transplant and that I’d be spending years on dialysis and facing the worst.
“But when I told him, Kaid just said ‘well then I’ll do it, no problem’.”
Kaid Mohammed, who now lives in Ely in Cardiff, took the test and when he found out he was a match he immediately decided to go through with the transplant, giving his best friend his kidney.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” John added. “We grew up together and did everything together as children. Kaid was always round at my house when we were growing up and we have always been close.
“But to do something like this for me is incredible.”
His illness began with diabetes and when his kidneys began to fail, his body gradually became weaker.
He could not walk very far and was unstable on his feet and one of his falls led to him breaking both arms and one leg.
And as his condition deteriorated he was not able to leave the house for a long period of time.
John received Kaid’s kidney in April.
“Every day keeps getting better and better,” he explained. “I felt it instantly and I feel like a different person.
“Kaid is doing great as well, which I am very happy about.
“I feel like I can start my life again now. Before the transplant I couldn’t go out very far and holidays had to stop.
“I thought I would be spending the rest of my life on dialysis but thanks to Kaid everything is getting better and I can get my life back.”
