Ahmedabad: At the outset, it appears an unusual wish. A 15-year-old boy, suffering from end stage renal disease in which kidneys stop working, was to undergo a complicated kidney transplant surgery at Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital (MPUH) in Nadiad on September 7.

The hospital has a tradition of asking patients before major surgical operations if they had a particular wish.

The boy unhesitatingly expressed his desire to meet his idol. No, it was not mega star Shahrukh Khan or cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar the boy wanted a rendezvous with. It was celebrated painter Amit Ambalal who has inspired the boy, a budding artist, since the latter's childhood.

Raghuvendra Pandya, of Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, is a painting enthusiast and has greatly been inspired by Ambalal. So when it came to express his wish, he could think of no other name.

The MPUH got in touch with Ambalal and informed him about the boy's desire. The painter, a fine human being, immediately accepted the request.

Young Pandya's wish was fulfilled on Friday, as Ambalal visited Pandya at the Nadiad hospital and spent time with him. "Pandya's joy doubled when Ambalal sketched some art piece with his autograph and gifted them to the boy," said an MPUH official. Pandya's mother will donate one of her kidneys to her son. Incidentally, Raghuvendra's father is also a painter.

"It was like a dream come true for the young Raghuvendra. His happiness was palpable when he stood beside the renowned painter to pose for a photograph.

His parents were naturally delighted to see their son smiling," said the hospital sources.

Ambalal was all praise for the efforts made by the MPUH and also for the 'Make a Wish Foundation' for trying to bring happiness to the children during their otherwise stressful time while in the hospital.

MPUH staffers are involved in social activities to help such patients. Dr Sujata Rajapurkar, transplant coordinator at MPUH, and Niketa Ghiya, a volunteer with Make A Wish Foundation, were present when Ambalal visited the boy. Ghiya, who is on maintenance dialysis, has been performing Bharat Natyam dances for several years to raise funds to help needy dialysis patients at MPUH.