As a palliative care nurse in Grimsby, Andy Clutton always strives to ensure language is never a barrier to good health. So when newcomer Ghulam Akbar Momand and his family arrived in Canada from Afghanistan in 2012, and moved into the same apartment building, Clutton didn’t shy away from welcoming the family with open arms.
“It just takes a heart to want to communicate something and want to listen to it in return,” the RN and father of three says.  

When the Momand family arrived, the building was without water or electricity. To lend a hand, Clutton delivered water to his neighbours, including Momand. When they met, they both learned they were more alike than they thought. Both families “...are extremely community-oriented and love to build relationships. It was very easy to connect with them on many things,” Clutton says.

Momand was a doctor in his village of Mangwal, Afghanistan. He performed circumcisions and pulled teeth. Both men live their lives following their faith: Clutton a Christian, and Momand a Muslim.  

As the two grew closer, Clutton learned Momand suffered from diabetes and struggled with high blood pressure, cataracts and poor circulation. By 2015, Momand had been on dialysis for more than three years and his kidneys were failing. When it became clear he would need a kidney transplant, and his family would not be able to help, Momand asked Clutton what he should do next. 

In Afghanistan, if you have the money and a willing donor, you pay the doctor and arrangements are made. The process is very different in Canada.  

To help his friend, Clutton began researching how someone can qualify for a kidney transplant. Five months later, he decided to donate his own kidney if he was a match. “I came at it from the perspective that my good friend was (close to) death,” Clutton says. 

Faith also played a role. Clutton believes all Christians should live their lives by Jesus’ example. “If we’re trying to be role models like Jesus, how can we not be a support in someone’s time of crisis when we have good health, good community, (and) good finances,” he says. 

Clutton and another friend offered to see if they were a match for Momand. When it was determined the latter was not an ideal match, Clutton went through 18 months of testing, including x-rays, lab work, CTs and MRIs to determine his suitability. He stayed committed, and in 2018, received the phone call that he had been medically cleared to proceed with the surgery in May 2018. 

Clutton began preparing his home life and his work for the time he would need to recover. However, one week before surgery, Momand was diagnosed with pneumonia and was unable to proceed because “...they wouldn’t know what the outcome would be,” Clutton says. They waited for Momand to recover, and a new surgery date was set for this past November. 

Reflecting back, Clutton says he never felt nervous. “I remember, finally when the day had come, (feeling) this big sense of relief,” he says. It had been a very up and down battle to ensure the two were healthy and ready for the surgery. Clutton says the support of family and friends made the process much easier. “Everyone was involved. Everyone got onto the rollercoaster (with us),” he adds.  

After the surgery, Clutton stayed in the hospital for four days. Momand was there for five. Although Clutton says the first four days were the most uncomfortable, and that he had to take eight weeks off work, he has no regrets. “I think this process definitely challenged me to not take things for granted like good health...good community,” Clutton says. “The bigger picture is life is very good and worth living.” The experience has also given him a life-long friend. “We’ll be forever connected.”