31/01/2026

SATURDAY | JAN 31, 2026

6

‘Second life’ for former soldier

Organ recipient urges public

to register as donors

o No longer weak and breathless after heart transplant, retiree plans to scale Mt Kinabalu

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Aidzil Jaafar considers himself one of the luckiest people in the world after receiving a new heart 14 years ago. He said the transplant not only saved his life, but also gave him the chance to experience a “second life” with his family and children. “I feel incredibly fortunate. Many people wait for years, some never get the chance. I received mine within a year.” Before the surgery in 2011, Aidzil said his life had become increasingly limited due to severe heart problems. Shortness of breath, constant fatigue and persistent pain had become part of his daily routine. “Even sitting down made me breathless. My body felt strange and I was always tired. But I endured it because I thought it was normal.” He said after receiving a donor heart, the change he experienced was so significant that words could hardly describe it. “The first time I ran after being discharged, my breathing felt incredibly strong, like I had the lungs of a horse.” However, a small yet amusing change also occurred, which has become his favourite anecdote whenever he shares his experience as a heart recipient. Before the surgery, he did not like curry or spicy food, and even the smell of mutton curry irked him. “But now, the moment I smell curry, I crave it. I never touched mutton curry before, but now it’s one of my favourite dishes. I often joke that my donor’s heart must have belonged to an Indian.” Jokes aside, Aidzil views the change as a sign of how his life truly began anew after the transplant. He advised the public not to take heart health lightly and encouraged more people to register as organ donors. “When we’re gone, our organs can give life to others. I am living proof that organ donation truly saves lives.” – BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE

below 50%. “The doctors told me my heart was no longer pumping properly. That was when I truly realised how serious my condition was.” Although he had smoked during his bachelor years, Aidzil said he quit upon joining the Armed Forces in 1999 and has remained a non-smoker since. After being placed on the heart transplant waiting list, Aidzil underwent a series of stringent medical evaluations before receiving a compatible heart roughly a year later, a waiting period he described as “extremely fortunate” compared with many others. “That’s when I learned how difficult it is to find a suitable heart. The size has to match, the blood group has to be compatible. Alhamdulillah , everything aligned.” Aidzil acknowledged that the heart he received came from a deceased person but said he has never known the identity of the individual nor the donor’s family. “IJN strictly maintains confidentiality. There were gatherings organised for families and recipients of donors, but identities were never disclosed. “All I can do is pray for the donor and the family concerned.” He said life after the transplant changed completely. Activities that once seemed impossible became part of his daily routine again, including running and exercising without breathlessness. “It’s like I died and came back to life. My breathing feels strong and long again. That’s a blessing I’ll never forget.” Now back in his hometown in Sabah following retirement,

PETALING JAYA: Fourteen years after undergoing a life-saving heart transplant, retired army serviceman Aidzil Jaafar is pushing his physical and mental limits with plans to scale Mount Kinabalu in June. Aidzil, 48, said his decision to climb Southeast Asia’s highest peak celebrates his remarkable journey of survival and renewal. He added that he wants to send a message that organ transplant recipients can lead active and meaningful lives with proper care and discipline. “This isn’t just about climbing a mountain. It’s about showing that organ recipients like me can live actively, just like everyone else. The heart I received gave me a second chance at life,” he told theSun in a phone interview. Recounting the beginning of his heart issue, Aidzil said he began experiencing symptoms about six months before being diagnosed in 2011, when he was 34. Despite remaining active in military training, he noticed his body was no longer functioning as it once did. “I got tired very easily, had shortness of breath, bloating and my body started turning yellow. Climbing just one flight of stairs felt like running five kilometres,” said the father of nine. He sought treatment at a hospital before being referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN), where further examinations revealed he was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and weakened, with pumping capacity reduced to

Aidzil said his recovery is a blessing he will never forget, describing it as akin to having died and coming back to life. – PIC COURTESY OF AIDZIL JAAFAR

Aidzil has begun light training, including jogging, in preparation for the Mount Kinabalu climb. “If I feel I can’t manage it, I won’t force myself. “But for now, I want to

challenge myself.” He hopes his story will help raise public awareness about the importance of organ donation. “One donor can save many lives. I am living proof.”