Chandigarh:
At just 26 years of age, Yogesh Kumar had already begun shaping young minds as a Lecturer at Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura. An M. Pharma graduate with a promising academic future ahead of him, Yogesh’s life was tragically cut short following a road traffic accident. Yet, in the midst of an unimaginable loss, his family made a courageous decision that transformed grief into hope for three patients who had been waiting for vital organ transplants for a long time.
A resident of Chila Kalan, Shamti, in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, Yogesh sustained severe injuries on May 28, 2026, when he was struck by a vehicle while crossing a road. Following initial treatment at Gian Sagar Hospital, Rajpura, he was referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh, where multidisciplinary teams made every possible effort to save him. Despite intensive treatment, he succumbed to a devastating brain injury and was declared brain stem dead following due certification under the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act.
In the midst of profound grief, his father, Shri Puran Chand, chose to honour his son’s compassionate spirit by consenting to the donation of all eligible organs. The decision enabled the successful retrieval and transplantation of the liver, pancreas and both kidneys at PGIMER, including the Institute’s 73rd Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney (SPK) transplant.
Demonstrating extraordinary courage and generosity while holding back his tears, Shri Puran Chand shared, “Our son was our lifeline, and his sudden loss has left a void that can never be filled. He was devoted to education and always believed in helping others. When doctors told us there was no possibility of bringing him back, we felt that if his organs could help others, a part of him would continue to live on. Knowing that Yogesh has brought hope to families who had been waiting for these organs gives us some strength in this painful time. We only wish that more families find the courage to support organ donation so that others may receive a second chance when all hope seems lost.”
Paying tribute to the donor and his family, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, said, “Yogesh Kumar’s story is a poignant reminder that even the deepest personal tragedy can become a source of hope for others. At just 26 years of age, he had a bright future ahead of him as an educator and scholar. The decision of his family to consent to organ donation reflects extraordinary courage, generosity and social responsibility. Through this noble act, hope has reached patients who had been waiting for a second chance for a long time. PGIMER salutes the family and remains committed to strengthening organ donation and transplantation services so that more such lives may be touched through the gift of donation.”
Following the family’s consent, multiple teams across the Institute—including transplant coordinators, laboratory services, retrieval teams, operating theatre personnel, anaesthesiologists, intensivists and transplant surgeons—worked seamlessly to facilitate the donation and transplantation process. One patient received a kidney transplant, another underwent a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant, and a third recipient received the donor liver. For these patients and their families, the donation marked the end of a long and uncertain wait and the beginning of a new chapter in life.
Prof. Ashish Sharma, Head, Renal Transplant Surgery, PGIMER, emphasized the significance of the simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant as he shared, “A particularly noteworthy achievement was the successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation performed on a 30-year-old recipient from Chandigarh. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is among the most complex procedures in abdominal transplantation and is offered only at select centres with advanced expertise and infrastructure. This procedure not only restores kidney function but also has the potential to free eligible diabetic patients from lifelong insulin dependence. Significantly, this was the 73rd successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant performed at PGIMER, reflecting the institute’s growing leadership in advanced transplant surgery.”
Dr. Vijay Tadia, Nodal Officer, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO), PGIMER, underscored the broader significance of the family’s decision. “Behind every successful organ donation is a family that chooses humanity over grief. The decision taken by Yogesh Kumar’s family demonstrates the profound impact one donor can have on several individuals and their loved ones. Their generosity serves as a powerful example of the importance of deceased organ donation and highlights how hope can emerge even in moments of profound loss. We hope this inspiring gesture encourages greater public awareness and motivates more families to support this life-saving cause.”
PGIMER continues to be a leading centre for organ transplantation in North India, performing complex kidney, liver, pancreas and multi-organ transplant procedures while actively promoting awareness about deceased organ donation. Yogesh Kumar’s final gift stands as a lasting testament to the power of compassion and the extraordinary difference that one family’s selfless decision can make in the lives of others.
