AN ART teacher is encouraging other to become organ donors after he saved his friends life by giving him a kidney.

Steven Dowson, 47, of Leigh Road, Leigh, has known Simon Ling for nearly 30 years after meeting at Chelsea College of Arts.

So when Simon, 48, from Camden, told him he needed a new kidney, Steven did not hesitate.

Simon has a condition called IgA nephropathy, which is where an antibody lodges in the kidneys and results in inflammation that, over time, can stop the kidneys from filtering the waste from the blood.

Steven said: “About seven years ago Simon first mentioned that he might need a new kidney and I jokingly said, ‘well, you can have one of mine’!

“Then a few years later he asked if I was serious and I said ‘of course’.”

Thankfully, preliminary tests showed that Steven, an art teacher at South East Essex Sixth Form College, was a good match and when Simon’s health began to deteriorate at Christmas the operation was planned so he could avoid doing dialysis.

At the end of March the pair went under the knife with the help of a surgical robot at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

When the pair were discharged Steven went to stay at Simon’s for a few days. He said: “It was pretty funny as we were both hobbling about. It is a strange sensation. I do feel like there is an absence of something – a physical feeling of space.”

He now wants to encourage people to sign up for a donor - although Simon was lucky Steven stepped up he had been on the waiting list for a kidney for about five years with no luck.

Simon added: “Steven is probably the most decent person that I know. I’m just incredibly grateful for what he’s done.” I also want to say thank you for all the care I received at the Royal Free Hospital from the surgical team to everyone on the ward. All the staff were amazing and treated us with compassion and care. Their professionalism was extraordinary.”

Steven said: “Simon has always been there when I’ve needed help and I’m more than happy to be able to help him out so significantly in return. I think to make that much of a difference to somebody is a great opportunity.”

Neal Banga, the consultant transplant surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital, who carried out the transplant, said: “Robotic surgery is changing the face of surgery as it enables the surgeon to take on more complex cases and reduces recovery times. It’s fantastic to see Simon and Steven doing so well.”