In Shah Alam, Nor Azimah Kamaruddin, a 40 year old mother of four was suffering from kidney ailment.

But she was "lucky" to have had a friend willing to give her one of his kidneys.

But Nor Azimah did not have the chance to have the transplant she had yearned for. The “laws” of the land didn’t let her.

Rule no.1. You can donate only after death. Meaning you can pledge now but the actual “ donation’ would take place when you you have passed away.

In the case of living donors, ( for kidney transplants) the Malaysian health authority was of the view that it can only be carried out if the donors and recipients are close family members. Folks regarded as " distant relatives" are also allowed

But for Nor Azimah - her donor was a friend of her husband. Hence no family ties. So no transplant. According to the Health ministry this “policy” was a result of " consensus reached by experts from government and private hospitals".

The reason for such a “policy” were many. For one - the ministry said there were alternative treatment for Nor Azima and others like her. Dialysis was one .

But dialysis was one treatment Nor Azima had been going for - three days per week. And it had cost her quite an amount in RM.

Another reason for the ministry to have come up with the “policy” was “ worry there will be people out to make money by selling their organs”. And by having the “regulation” the ministry hoped to halt such practice.

And on top of that the ministry wanted “ to safe guard the health and well being of donors”.

All disputed by Nor Azimah .

Baffling her was the fact that the government had embarked on a big campaign for people to donate organs. But when someone wanted to donate -- that was refused.

The waiting list for organs donated by people who have passed on was long.

So Nor azimah accepted the fact that she could not have the transplant in the country. But she know that such a transplant could be done elseway. Like in China. However that meant big money.

Her husband took her plight to TV3.The private television

station had earlier launched a fund raising exercise via a weekly programme which highlighted sufferings of people all

around the country.

The station was convinced Nor Azimah was a deserving case. And they helped. Still the money given was not enough.

Then Nor Azimah got lucky. Her plight somehow caught the attention of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. And it was through the Deputy Prime Minister’s “intervention”, the extra cash needed was raised.

She went to China and had what was said to be a successful kidney transplant. Which brings us to All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu.

The giant of a winger is playing rugby again.

Although he will not realized his dream of playing in the World Cup again, the fact is he’s playing.

And that itself is a miracle - considering three years ago it looked as if Lomu will never play rugby ever again - because of kidney disease.

But like Nor Azimah, Jomu was also lucky to have a friend - Grant Kereama - who was willing to give him one of his kidneys. But unlike Nor Azimah, he had the chance to undergo a kidney transplant in 2004.

To use an over used cliché – and the rest is history.

nb.

On December 2006 Nor Azimah passed away of, according to her husband “ tuberculosis”. He insist kidney failure was not the cause of death.