"It takes a lot for people to donate blood; I’ve learnt how brave they are…" Twenty-four year old Devesh is an inspirational young man, who beams enthusiasm for life despite living everyday knowing it could be his last. BBC Leicester's Jamilla Khanum met Devesh, to find out more about his story... Devesh was born with Thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder which requires him to have blood transfusions every four weeks for the rest of his life. It's something Devesh has learnt to live with, but something that has meant making sacrifices most people his age would find difficult… Three years ago, Devesh suffered from heart failure which meant spending time in intensive care. That wasn't the first time; it was a case of deja-vu. He had previously been in hospital after a similar deterioration in health. Simple tasks such as walking up stairs or going out with friends exerts too much pressure Devesh's heart, meaning he's forced to miss out on so much. But Devesh describes the support of family and friends as invaluable - "my family are great….if it wasn't for them I'd really struggle." One of the most moving things about meeting Devesh is how he's turned his experiences into something positive: "I can't dwell on it, and let it hold me back, I've got ambitions and I want to realise them like everybody else." His ultimate ambition is to go back to university after dropping out because of his condition. There's no doubt that this young man's indebted to people out there that do something selfless to keep him alive. But Devesh knows this and never once seems to take it for granted. | 
