In his own words, the past year has been “awesome” for Joshua Dolan.

On May 18, the 10-year-old boy from Enniskillen marked the first anniversary of his life-saving kidney transplant with a get-together with his family and the man who selflessly donated the kidney to him.

Before last year’s operation, Joshua had only one functioning kidney, which was operating at 17 per cent.

His condition meant constant trips to Belfast for dialysis, along with fatigue.

He was unable to go to school, or to play like someone his age should be able to play. Even eating and drinking were very different for him than they are today.

Cake, fizzy drinks, and pizza were not on the menu while Joshua searched for a donor.

But last Thursday, Joshua tucked happily into all as he sat proudly wearing the police hat given to him by Graham Dodds – the policeman who donated his kidney to Joshua.

Graham, who is Head of Roads Policing for the PSNI, also gave Joshua some of his medal ribbons, and in a complete surprise landed at Joshua’s home in one of the PSNI’s top-of-the-range Roads Policing cars, with the excitement clear to see on Joshua’s face as it pulled up.

Because of Graham’s decision, Joshua has been given a new lease on life. “He’s back at school – he has got the appetite of a horse, to be honest with you,” joked his mother, Mary.

“Because he wouldn’t have eaten anything before; he was a picky eater, and was just too tired to eat. Now, he’s just eating everything, and he’s more active.

“We went on our first trip away to Belfast – a weekend away – and the energy was unbelievable. He was running around like an ordinary child! It’s a new lease of life.”

Mary looks back on how it was before the operation, when Joshua had no energy, was on dialysis, and spent a lot of time sleeping and missing out on the normal things a young boy should be doing.

“He didn’t have a life. This is the beginning of it. It’s been a good year.”

Joshua was glued to the window last Thursday as the police car pulled up, and it was another wish come true for him to see it up close and personal. And it was all down to Graham, who Mary said is now a friend for life.

“Another wish come true. Graham keeps coming with wishes. Over a year ago, we didn’t know Graham, and we know him over a year and a half now, and he is just part of the family, and there is nobody like him. He’s a lifesaver.

“We are thankful – only for him, we mightn’t have Joshua today.”

Now, Joshua is back swimming, taking part at school, and goes to the walking club in the afternoon. He only has to go to Belfast every eight weeks, and he has cut his tablet intake from 25 pills to 12 a day.

It’s a positive change for Joshua, and for Graham, who feels healthier and fitter since the operation than before it.

“It genuinely has been one of the easiest things I have done,” he said. “It surprises me that the operation was a year ago today!

“But the year has gone past really quickly. I think the only change in my life has been a positive one, knowing what I did to save Joshua’s life. The only changes have been positive ones.”

For Graham, his donation has not affected him in any way, except to encourage a more healthy lifestyle. And he is currently in the middle of training for a walking marathon in Scotland next year.

“I feel fitter now than before I had the surgery, so it has been great for me. It’s one of the easiest things I’ve done, with the biggest impact.

‘Massive impact’

“I’ve been a police officer for 24 years and this is probably the best thing I have done, in terms of how easy it was, but the massive impact it has had on Joshua and the impact on me, knowing my organ is in Joshua, and the likelihood is he could get 70 or 80 years out of it, if not more.

“So, I find it’s positive to know I have that physical link and, God willing, my kidney will be in him working years after I am gone.”

It is because of the simplicity of the whole thing that Graham is also keen to encourage as many people as possible to become organ donors.

“If you’re in a position where you think you might be able to donate, go and get tested, and consider it.

“If you can be a match, you can save somebody’s life. It’s not just changing somebody’s life – you can save somebody’s life. Because with Joshua, the prognosis was that he wouldn’t survive, and my actions have done that [have helped give him a normal life].

“I said to people, I had minor surgery on my toe years ago, and that caused me more worries and pain than this major surgery,” added Graham.

The surgery has created a bond between Joshua and Graham that will last forever. But it has also changed Joshua’s life for the better.

And for Graham, his modesty around the selfless but life-saving act shines through, as he keeps motoring along.

Joshua is going from strength to strength and his delighted mother summed it up perfectly when she said: “The future is bright.”