It was another story of exemplary courage, of resolute spirit as the Chandigarh based benevolent family of Rajesh, all of 23, amid their own heart-wrenching tragedy of sudden loss of their young son, consented for organ donation and gave the greatest gift anyone can give – the ‘gift of life’ to five terminally ill patients suffering from debilitating organ failure diseases, one at New Delhi, another at Gurugram and three more at PGIMER. Two more were given ‘gift of sight’ through this selfless act of organ donation, thereby impacting seven lives in all here at PGIMER.
It was the fateful day of 3rd January, when a pall of gloom descended on the family as Rajesh became unconscious due to grievous head injuries after a sudden fall at his home. The family first rushed Rajesh to Govt Multi Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, from where he was referred to PGIMER and was admitted here on the same day, 3rd January, in an extremely critical condition.
But all the efforts of the family and the attending medical team for almost ten days could not avert the dark tragedy as Rajesh could not be revived and subsequently, after following the protocols as per THOA 1994, was declared brain dead early morning on 12th January.
When it became clear that Rajesh would not come out of his devastating head injury, the transplant coordinators at PGIMER approached Mandodri Devi, the bereaved mother, to request if she could consider organ donation. Displaying immense grit, the resolute mother consented for organ donation.
“Our tragedy is too gruesome for words. After his father’s demise, Rajesh was the only bread earner and a ray of life for me. But now that is also gone and our world is completely doomed. May be God has taken my son, because others were to live because of him through Organ Donation. Rajesh was able to do more than many can achieve in a lifetime of hundred years,” expressed brave heart but shell-shocked Mandodri Devi after she consented for Organ Donation of her deceased son.
Following the family’s consent, doctors at the PGIMER initiated the process of procurement of organs. Simultaneously, different series of tests like cross-matching were conducted to determine the compatibility with the intended recipients.
Detailing about the the allocation of the retrieved organs, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER & Nodal Officer, ROTTO (North) stated, “ As the cross matching indicated no matching recipient for heart and lungs in PGIMER, we immediately got in touch with other transplant hospitals to explore options for matching recipients and finally heart was allocated to a 30 year old male patient admitted in Army R & R Hospital, New Delhi and lungs were allocated to 55 year old male matching recipient admitted in Medanta, Gurugram, with the intervention of NOTTO”
Prof. Vipin Koushal further elaborated, “To ensure safe and speedy transport of the harvested organs, two Green Corridors had to be created on 12th January in conjunction with the retrieval timings. The first one was created from PGIMER to Technical Air Port Chandigarh at around 04.15 am for the transportation of retrieved heart and second one was created at 04.50 am from PGIMER to International AirPort to enable safe passage for the transport of lungs for the onward flight to Gurudram. ”
“It was literally a race against time. We had to complete all the procedural formalities, harvesting process as well as transportation of the organs. But commendable efforts by PGIMER Security Deptt., Chandigarh & Mohali Police, CISF and Airport Staff on duty that we accomplished in making it on time through green corridors,” added Prof. Koushal.
Meanwhile, both the matching recipients for heart and lungs were prepped and kept ready and the transplantation took place as soon as the heart and lungs arrived at their respective destinations in New Delhi and Gurugram respectively. The harvested liver was transplanted to a 60 year old male recipient who was wait-listed with Deptt. of Hepetology here in PGIMER, giving him a second lease of life.
A 26 year male patient turned lucky to get Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant and a second kidney was transplanted to a 32 year old male, both patients admitted in PGIMER. Before the transplants, both the matching recipients were suffering from the last stage of debilitating kidney ailment and had been dependent on dialysis for long. The retrieved corneas, on transplantation, restored the sight of two corneal blind patients here at PGIMER.
Paying his homage to the brave heart donor, a family member of the liver recipient, while resonating the sentiments of all the recipient families, said, “No words can express our gratitude to the family of donor Rajesh. The impact of their decision has actually given hope and a second chance at life to all those recipients in desperate need. Their love, strength and compassion have transformed tragedy into triumph and their kindness echoes through the beating hearts of those given the gift of life.”
