IEP Chandigarh, October 31, 2022
In the month of October, the magnanimous gesture of organ donation by 4 brave heart families amid their own grim tragedy, kindled new hope in 15 patients including 9 end-stage organ failure patients and 6 corneal blind patients herein PGIMER. Paying a rich tribute to the departed souls, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER said, “This noble act of all the four donor families is beyond any words of appreciation. It is really crucial for everyone to understand that even in times of grief, one positive response too can change the lives of multiple strangers and bring a smile to many faces. It was a very courageous decision taken by the donor families, even as they were grieving the sudden demise of their dear ones.” 1) Charan Kaur, 66 years old impacted 2 livesIt was on 18th October when 66-year-old Charan Kaur, a resident of village Khetla, Sangrur, Punjab was brought to PGIMER in an extremely critical condition following a brain hemorrhage. However, despite the best efforts of the attending doctors, Charan Kaur could not be saved and was declared brain dead on 20th October.It was then the transplant coordinator raised the matter of organ donation with Bant Singh, the brave heart husband of the deceased Charan Kaur, who gave his consent for the same, following which both kidneys were retrieved from the deceased and transplanted to two end-stage renal failure patients, thereby giving them a fresh lease of life. The bereaved husband Bant Singh described his deceased wife as a ‘kind and benevolent person who always believed in helping others and doing good for others. “Even in her death, she has done the same what he lived for by helping the lives of two others.” said an extremely courageous Bant Singh. 2) 28-year-old youth impacted 5 lives A good-natured and ever-energetic 28-year-old youth from Patiala, Punjab was first admitted in a local hospital following a fatal road accident on 10th October and then shifted to PGIMER on 15th October in an extremely precarious condition. But it was destined otherwise as his condition became irretrievable on 18th October. Assessing this, PGIMER’s internal committee, after meeting twice, found the parameters matching brain death, and eventually, he was declared brain dead on the evening of 18th October itself. In the meantime, transplant coordinators at PGIMER apprised the deceased’s relatives of the prospects of utilizing his organs through donation for transplants to terminally ill organ failure patients. With the deceased’s father consenting to the proposal of Organ Donation, the concerned departments started reaching out to the matching recipients.Finally, the cross-match of several potential recipients led to the identification of matching recipients for liver, kidneys, pancreas, and corneas, which on transplantation gave a second lease of life to three organ failure patients and restored the sight of two corneal blind patients, thereby impacting five lives in all here in PGIMER. 3) Harsh 5-years-old impacted 4 lives Harsh a 5-years-old from Village Mator Distt. Kaithal Haryana was suffering from a rare genetic epilepsy disorder from the past 2 years and was under treatment. On 28th September he suffered with a high fever and multiple seizures and was admitted to PGI on the same day, his condition was very critical. The doctors tried their best efforts to save him but despite this, he was declared brain dead due to increased intracranial pressure on 09th October. After that, the Transplant Coordinator approached the family with a request for organ donation, and consent was taken. Following the consent of the family of Harsh on 09th October, the process of the retrieval of the organs was initiated. The retrieved Pancreas, kidneys, & Corneas saved the lives of two recipients here in PGIMER and the harvested corneas restored the sight of two more, thereby, enabling four lives in all. “Our son is no more. But at least someone else’s child will survive because of her organs. That’s why we decided to donate,” Manoj Kumar the bereaved father, told the transplant coordinators. We thought about it and decided that he would be alive in other people’s lives and give others a reason to smile.” 4) Banty, 31 years old impacted 4 livesBanty, a 31-year-old male from village Chhaju Majra, Landran, district Mohali, Punjab was mercilessly hit by a speeding vehicle from behind while he was going on his two-wheeler from work near Mohali, causing him fatal head injuries on 28th September and was rushed to PGIMER and however, after four days of the struggle between life and death; Banty was declared brain-dead on 1st October, after following the protocols of THOA.When the transplant coordinators approached the family to consider organ donation, the family consented, braving their own grave tragedy.Following this, the kidneys retrieved from the donor Banty were transplanted to two terminally ill patients suffering from “end-stage debilitating kidney ailment.” The corneas of the donor were also harvested, which on transplantation, restored the eyesight of two other patients, sustaining hope in 4 lives in all. Detailing about the cadaver donation programme, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER & Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER stated, “There is a burgeoning need for more such successful transplants in the public health service institutions in our country which can benefit a huge stratum of socio-economically disadvantaged patients from far-flung areas and PGIMER is determined with its efforts to make such transplant a success despite whatever odds.”
