Leeds family's extraordinary measures to shield son who had kidneys donated by both parents

Akash Suryavansi, 22, is one of more than two million people in England asked to shield when the nation entered its third coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday.

Akash is classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and his family has gone the extra mile to ensure he is safe during the pandemic.

Helping third time Leeds Covid shielders combat social isolation and loneliness

He is hoping the 2021 British Transplant Games - planned to take place in Leeds this August - can go ahead.

Akash went to his first games when he was aged eight and competed in archery - winning a silver medal - and table tennis at the last Games in Newport in 2018.

His mum Tina, 51, who manages A&E departments at Leeds hospitals, moved out of the family home for ten months in 2019 to eliminate the risk of passing Covid on.

Akash's twin sister Dinish moved in with her, leaving Akash with father Aky, 53, at the family's three bed semi-detached home in Weetwood.

The family reunited before Christmas after renting a bigger, five-bedroom house with a separate bathroom for Akash in nearby Alwoodley.

Akash is continuing to socially distance from mum Tina.

Apart from regular dog walking, Akash has only been on one trip out of the house since the first lockdown in February.

That was for a blood test at Seacroft Hospital in June.

Akash has suffered kidney problems since he was born prematurely in June 1998. His kidneys had not formed and at just a few weeks old he was on dialysis.

His mum Tina donated one of her kidneys to Akash in 2004 when he was aged six.

The kidney started deteriorating in 2015 and in October of that year, Akash suffered a double brain haemorrhage, which affected the mobility of his right side and his speech.

Akash's father Aky underwent surgery to donate a kidney to his son in November 2015.

Aky, who works for Macmillan Cancer Support from home, said: "We have been very careful and we are going to maintain the strict way we are doing things. We are not going to change things for a while.

"We are safeguarding our son, he is our main priority at the moment. We are just making sure he is constantly safe.

"All he has ever done is walk the dog with me at quiet times. He has been stuck in the house now for 11 months, the poor chap."

The YEP is a media partner for the 2021 British Transplant Games , which are organised on behalf of Transplant Sport, and aim to raise awareness of the need for organ donation, encourage transplant recipients to lead active lives and show appreciation for donors.

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Aky, who is an ambassador promoting The Games in Leeds, said Akash regularly speaks online to the many friends he has made over the years at the British Transplant Games.

He said: "They are always contacting each other. It keeps their spirits up. They can call on each other for advice or help or just to talk.

"He loves going to The Games. He once turned round to me and said 'if I hadn't had a kidney transplant I wouldn't have made friends with all these fantastic people."

Aky added: "We do hope and pray that The Games in Leeds are going to take place. I think the guys need it, to get together and meet friends and enjoy a bit of normality."