A 47-year-old mother from Nottinghamshire who passed away in October following a brain haemorrhage has been hailed for saving five lives.
Leela Keshavji’s kidneys, lungs, liver, pancreas and heart valves were all used to help other people.
The mother of three has been described as an "inspiring individual" following her sudden death and her family’s contribution in establishing a foundation in her memory with the aim of urging black and Asian communities to take greater initiative in organ donation.
Leela, reportedly had regular conversations with her family about the importance of organ donation.
Speaking to the BBC, her husband Manoj said, "She was acutely aware there is a huge shortage of organ donation for everyone, but particularly the BAME community. Many years ago she registered as a donor and she regularly had these conversations with myself and the children to explain the importance of it."
According to him she wanted to become a donor after seeing the "heartache" some families were going through waiting for donors.
The NHS estimates that black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people have to wait, on average, a year longer than white people for a kidney transplant in England. In May, a law change in England meant people were required to opt out of being organ donors, rather than opting in.
NHS Blood and Transplant said prior to the law change there was a record high number of black and Asian people receiving an organ transplant. However, cultural and religious stigma around organ donation continues and charity workers have frequently insisted the need for greater participation and awareness among the BAME community around organ donation.
