A Gambian man has thanked his mother who flew 9,000 miles from Banjul to Taiwan to donate a kidney to him.

Lamin Jarjusey, 40, underwent a successful kidney transplant in March at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Mr Jarjusey was diagnosed with stage 5 chronic kidney disease three years ago after he began noticing blood in his urine. 

He started receiving dialysis treatment after his condition worsened last year.

After discussing possible treatment options with the his doctors, it was decided that his mother would come to Taiwan to donate a kidney, according to Focus on Taiwan.  

Due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare issued a special entry permit to Jarjusey’s mother earlier this year to come to Taiwan in February as a kidney donor.

“Before the surgery I felt sleepy and tired all the time, and felt cold and so many complications. But now I feel good,” Mr Jarjusey said.

“I would like to give a big thanks to my mum for giving me another chance. She brought me into this world and she gave me another chance for a healthy life,” he added.