Life springs from Death again at PGIMER
3 Brave heart-Donor Families from 3 different states but exhibiting the same Exemplary ‘Spirit of Giving’ amid their own tragedies
Gave Second Chance at Life to 10 battling for Survival & Sight to 4 others in last fortnight at PGIMER
In all 14 lives impacted through the noble cause of Organ Donation
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 14, 2023:
PGIMER once again witnessed exemplary ‘spirit of giving’ by three brave heart families amid their own darkest tragedies, enabling second chance at life to 10 patients battling for survival and restoring the sight of 4 corneal blind patients, thereby impacting the life of 14 patients in the last fortnight here in PGIMER.
Expressing his gratitude to the donor families for their generous acts, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER stated, “All the three donor families from the adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are an acme of compassion and benevolence. Their noble deed of organ donation is beyond any appreciation, any eulogy. These are the people who make PGIMER an inspiration. We honour the resolute spirit of these families and determined efforts by the entire PGIMER team involved in the process to enable them to fulfil their wish by giving life to others.”
Despite being faced with the unimaginable loss, the father of 8 year old donor from Kaithal , Haryana , turned his grim tragedy into a triumph for three terminally ill organ failure patients and two corneal blind patients with his generous gesture of Organ Donation.
The perfect life of the donor family suddenly crashed when their younger son, barely 8, was grievously injured in a road side accident on 1st September and was rushed to the local private hospital. However, seeing his condition worsening, the hapless family brought their critically injured son to PGIMER on the same day. But as luck would have it, the fervent prayers of the family and friends and best of medical attention proved futile as the child’s ten day long struggle with life and death came to an end and he was declared brain dead on 10th September.
On being informed about his precarious condition, the family showcased exceptional initiative and expressed willingness to donate organs of their dear one. Following the family’s consent, liver, kidneys and corneas were retrieved from the young donor.
There being no matching recipient for liver here in PGIMER, it was shared with SDM Hospital, Jaipur by creating a green corridor and managing other logistics, for a matching recipient with the intervention of ROTTO. The retrieved kidneys were transplanted to two terminally ill patients suffering from renal ailment and the retrieved corneas, on transplantation, restored the sight of two corneal blind patients at PGIMER.
In the second case, the untimely and tragic death of 22 years old youth from Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh is beyond comprehension and extremely difficult to reconcile with. The deceased was grievously injured in a road side accident on 31st August and was rushed to the local civil hospital. However, seeing his condition worsening, he was brought to PGIMER on the same day and was put on life support. But it was willed otherwise and the youth was declared brain dead on 3rd September.
Showcasing an exemplary courage and magnanimity, the family did not let the tragic death of their dear son go in vain and consented for organ donation when the transplant coordinators raised the matter with them.
“Everything came crashing down due to untimely death of my young son. 22 years is no age to go, ’’ recalled the grief-stricken father, “And then, transplant coordinators at PGIMER talked to us about organ donation. The idea of having a chance to save someone else’s life made sense to us, even though we didn’t have the heart to take our son off life support. Finally we said ‘Yes’ thinking that our son should leave the world the same way he lived, like a hero, by caring and giving.”
Following the family’s consent, the process of the retrieval of the organs was initiated. Evaluating the organs, Heart, Liver, Kidneys and Pancreas were retrieved and transplanted to matching recipients here in PGIMER, thereby, giving a second lease of life to four organ failure patients here at PGIMER.
The third tragedy was also equally gruesome when on the fateful day of 23rd August, 25 year old youth from Sangrur, Punjab was hit by a speeding vehicle from behind and received grievous head injuries. Reacting to his critical condition, the family immediately rushed him to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala from where he was referred to PGIMER and was admitted here in precarious condition on 24th August. However, the youth could not be saved and was finally declared brain dead after following the protocols of THOA on 26thAugust.
Post the declaration of being brain dead, the transplant coordinator at PGIMER approached the family of the deceased to request if he could consider organ donation. The brave-heart family showcased immense grit and consented for organ donation.
Though finding it difficult to come to terms with reality, the bereaved father said, “ You can’t imagine the plight o a father whose 25 year old son is snatched by Almighty. He used to make alive even the dullest of the moments. During his life, he was so kind and helpful to others. Even in his passing also, he infused life in others through organ donation. I also learnt that only a minuscule number of people in India donate organs. I appeal to everyone to take this noble step and save lives.”
The retrieved lungs were shared with a hospital in Gurugram for a matching recipient with the intervention of NOTTO, one harvested kidney was transplanted here in PGIMER, thereby giving life to one renal failure patient and the harvested corneas restored the sight of two corneal blind patients. This way, four lives have been impacted, one in Gurugram and three here in PGIMER through this generous gesture of the bereaved family of Sangrur.
Prof. Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER detailing this cadaver donation experience stated, “Any initiative, however difficult, becomes successful when the community owns it and takes it forward. With the donor families like these three setting role models for others to follow, it seems we have come a long way through awareness generation. The donors’ story is a story of resurrection, of good coming full circle.”