Christmas is all about giving and receiving, a time to remember others who are less fortunate than us and a time remember the needy. Father Shibu Yohannan from Kerala made an immensely selfless contribution to the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of giving.

Fr. Shibu, 39, a priest from the St. Mary's Jacobite Church in Wayanad donated one of his kidneys to Kairunnissa, a 29-year-old Muslim woman hailing from Thrissur.

The recipient Kairunnissa, mother of a 3-year-old, was suffering from kidney ailment for the past three years and was undergoing dialysis therapy since the last one-and-a-half years.

The family was desperately looking for a donor as the hospital rejected Kairunnissa's 56-year-old mother from donating her organ.

She was chosen as a recipient by the Kidney Federation of India after the priest's kidney was found to be matching. The Kidney Federation of India was founded by Fr. Davis Chiramel, who was also the first priest in Kerala to donate a kidney to a stranger.

The organ transplant took place at Kochi's VPS Lakehsore Hospital.

Known for his charitable works, he recently raised Rs 25 lakh for patients who are suffering from cancer.