Paul McVeigh, former MMA fighter, donates kidney to stranger
Paul McVeigh, 41, a former professional mixed martial artist donated one of his kidneys to a complete stranger last year after reading about altruistic kidney donation online.
The fighter from Glasgow, Scotland, has not competed in the sport since 2013, but now runs a gym.
“After three months I returned to my job coaching mixed martial arts, which included lifting weights and participating in jujitsu,” McVeigh told PiPA News.
“Losing a kidney has not affected my life at all – I am as healthy as ever, although donating my kidney has encouraged me to take care of myself.
“A few months after my donation, I received a letter from the individual who received my kidney to thank me for my donation.
“I learned that it was a person of my age, and it made me proud to know that I was able to change his life like this – it’s something I will always remember.
“It’s not a decision to be taken lightly, but for anyone considering an altruistic donation, I’ll stress how glad I am that I did it,” he said.
McVeigh’s decision to donate sparked the interest of three other individuals to do so as well.
“I live my life the same way now that I could have done without donating, but I have changed the lives of three more people.”
More than 400 people in Scotland are currently waiting for a kidney transplant, with living kidney donation playing a key role in increasing donation and transplant rates.
McVeigh compiled a professional MMA record of 19-8 between 2002 and 2013.
