A 10-YEAR-OLD boy from Enniskillen has met his hero – a complete stranger who donated a kidney to him after reading about his desperate search for a donor in The Impartial Reporter.

Joshua Dolan finally met his kidney donor, PSNI Chief Inspector Graham Dodds, last week at Enniskillen Police Station.

The pair's initial meeting had been delayed to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the meeting of the pair also unusual as many people who receive an organ transplant not meeting their donor.

Young Joshua, who celebrated his 10th birthday just days beforehand, was delighted to meet Graham and “ran to hug him straight away” on Wednesday, July 14 according to his mother, Mary.

Speaking of the meeting between the pair, Mary said: “They have a totally understandable bond – Graham is now Joshua’s friend for life.

"You often don’t get to meet your donor, but Graham is a great man for what he has done. At the end of the day he saved Joshua’s wee life.”

Joshua is recovering well from his transplant procedure, still attending regular appointments in Belfast, but not to the same extent as he had been when he and his family travelled 500 miles a week for dialysis three times a week.

Mary praised the staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital for their commitment to Joshua, adding, “They had a wee card and a present ready for him on Monday for his birthday, and they knew everything he would like as they know him so well now.”

For Joshua, the next big step will be returning to school – something he “can’t wait to go back to”, according to his mum.

Graham has also been recovering well from his transplant operation, and is grateful to have donated to Joshua.

He said: “I’ve lost a kidney; I went into hospital feeling really healthy, and came out a wee bit ill, while Joshua went into hospital really ill, and came out supercharged because he has been given my adult kidney. It is like putting a Formula One engine in a tiny Mini!”

Joshua now has a kidney functioning at 91 per cent, compared to his own kidney that had been operating at 13 per cent.

He has also been gifted a police cap and Graham’s personal whistle and chain, which he had been using for 23 years.

For their first meeting, Graham gifted Joshua a St. Michael’s Police Medallion (the patron saint of police officers), which was attached to the whistle.

Speaking about the first meeting, Graham said: “ It was really bizarre that part of my body had been in him for seven weeks, and we hadn’t met. The first thing he did when he got into the police station was run up and hug me – he is such a lovely wee boy.

"He had given me a lovely, framed poem he had written which he framed with our pictures, and his wider family had given us a picture frame, and then gifted us a letter which was printed on slate. Joshua then gifted me a wee key ring as his 'kidney buddy'.

“We presented him with a police commendation for bravery, which is quite rare. It was given to him to mark his bravery in his suffering, but also his bravery in facing a kidney transplant.”

Another special memento for Joshua was a special coin presented to him on behalf of the National Black Police Association, as well as many other special PSNI gifts.

The majority of children are encouraged to name their kidneys, with Joshua opted to name his kidney ‘Hero’, in honour of his hero, Graham.

Speaking about the visit, Graham said: “He got a full VIP tour of the station; saw a police bike, police car and met Jasper the police search dog.”

Joshua was also allowed to go on the police boat, which was a rare opportunity for a civilian.

The lad's appeal was first raised in this very newspaper, with Graham saying: “None of this would have happened without The Impartial Reporter.

"I wouldn’t have seen Joshua’s appeal if it was not for the paper publishing it, and Joshua might not have got his donor, as all of his family were tested and unable to get a match.

"None of this would have happened without the paper. The single thing that has brought all of this together is local journalism, and The Impartial Reporter.”

Also delighted by the successful transplant was Jo-Anne Dobson, who is a living kidney donor and NI Ambassador for Kidney Care UK.

She said: “Graham and Joshua’s story is one of hope, generosity and love, and it will both encourage and inspire people to think about organ donation and talk to their loved ones [about organ donating].

“It was an honour to be invited to be part of their special day as they met for the first time, post-transplant, and to see just how well Joshua is now he no longer requires kidney dialysis.

"Graham has given Joshua a new lease of life, and just a few days later he celebrated his tenth birthday in style with his loving family – organ donation truly is the gift of life!

“At Kidney Care UK we provide advice, support and financial assistance to patients and their families at what can be some of the most difficult times in their lives.

"We are extremely grateful to all our supporters and fundraisers who enable us to continue to make sure that no one faces kidney disease alone.

"If you can help, or want to find out more about what we do, visit us online at kidneycare.org or email me at ambassadorni@kidneycareuk.org.”