This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
Published on October 19, 2019, a remarkable story of love and selflessness emerged from South London. Simon Louis, an East London resident, and Mary Emmanuelle, a woman from South London, had known each other since the mid-1990s, when they first met at a club in London.
Although Louis was immediately smitten with Emmanuelle, who was eight years his junior, nothing further developed between them. Emmanuelle was busy working as a secretary for a stockbroker and taking care of her son, Dwayne.
Years went by, and Louis continued to hold a torch for Emmanuelle. He would often send her chocolate and roses on Valentine's Day, but their relationship remained platonic.
Tragedy struck in September 2014, when Emmanuelle collapsed at home due to end-stage kidney disease. Her son discovered her on the floor, choking on her own vomit, and rushed her to the hospital. The diagnosis was devastating: Emmanuelle's only hope for survival was a kidney transplant, but with her rare B-Negative blood type, the chances were slim.
Emmanuelle's name was added to the 'deceased donor' list, and she could only wait for a match. To show her gratitude, Emmanuelle organized a trip to Spain, where she could receive her kidney transplant while abroad.
However, by the time Emmanuelle returned to London, the matched kidney had already been taken. It was then that Louis suggested he get tested to see if he shared her blood type. To their surprise, he was a match.
After months of assessment, Louis and Emmanuelle underwent a successful surgery. The two nursed each other back to health in Louis' East London flat. Shortly after, Louis asked Emmanuelle to marry him, but she declined, citing concerns about their special friendship and her health.
Despite her rejection, Louis remained optimistic, saying, 'I didn't think twice about it. There's no question about doing something like that for someone you love.'
