In a show of great fortitude, the bereaved family of a 28-year-old resident from Haryana’s Yamunanagar who passed away in an accident recently consented to organ donation to save other lives. “Our tragedy is too gruesome for words. We don’t want to focus on Anuj Kumar being gone or how he died. We want to focus on the positive, and that’s what organ donation has taught us to do. It seems Anuj’s life had a purpose.
His mortal journey has ended because others were to live because of him through organ donation. We are trying to draw consolation from the fact that in his short time on earth, Anuj was able to do more than many cannot achieve in a lifetime of hundred years,” said Amar Nath, the grieving father of the donor, Anuj Kumar, as he handed over the body of his deceased son to the mortuary at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
The donor’s brother-in-law, Vikas Kumar, also pledged himself as an organ donor and motivated other family members to do the same. Prof. Vivek Lal, the Director of PGIMER, expressing his gratitude to the donor family said, “Every donation is a reiteration of faith and continuation of life. It is the exemplary courage of the donor families like that of donor Anuj Kumar from Yamunanagar that sustains the deceased donation programme.” Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent PGIMER & Nodal Officer, ROTTO (NORTH), also stated, “Consenting to organ donation is the bedrock of deceased organ donation programme. That’s why any words will fall short of explaining the generosity of the donor families like that of Anuj Kumar. Through their magnanimous gesture, the donor family has conveyed a very strong message to pledge for organ donation. Such inspiring acts can turn the balance of organ donation in a huge way.” The family’s donation helped save three lives. According to Prof. HS Kohli, Department head of Nephrology: “The recipient of one kidney was a 44-year-old male who has been on hemodialysis since 2011.
