CHANDIGARH
In a remarkable act of humanity amid profound grief, the kidneys of a 20-year-old woman who lost her life in a road accident have given two men, aged 38 and 32, a new lease of life at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
Karanvir Kaur, daughter of Jagdeep Singh, a resident of Mulowal village in Punjab’s Sangrur district, had completed her Class XII education, cleared the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination and was preparing to go abroad to pursue her dreams. However, her aspirations were tragically cut short following a road accident on October 15.
After receiving treatment at hospitals in Dhuri and Ludhiana, Karanvir was brought to PGIMER on October 16. Following the prescribed medical evaluations, she was declared brain-stem dead on October 21.
Amid the unbearable pain of losing his young daughter, her father took the courageous decision to donate her organs. His consent enabled both kidneys to be transplanted into two patients at PGIMER, giving them an opportunity to look forward to healthier lives.
Recalling his daughter’s dreams and the family’s devastating loss, Jagdeep Singh said the decision to donate her organs was driven by the hope that her life could continue to make a difference.
“Every parent dreams of seeing their child grow, fulfil her aspirations and build a future of her own. Karanvir had cleared IELTS and was preparing to go abroad. We had so many dreams for her. Accepting that she will never return is a pain beyond words. But if a part of my daughter can live on through someone else, and two families can have a reason to smile again, her life will continue to make a difference,” he said.
“We have lost our daughter, but we hope her gift gives others the opportunity to live, dream and look forward to tomorrow,” he added.
Expressing gratitude to the bereaved family, PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal said Karanvir’s family had demonstrated extraordinary courage and humanity by choosing organ donation at a time of immense personal grief.
“While nothing can compensate for the loss of their young daughter, her legacy will live on through the lives touched by this precious gift. We hope this noble gesture inspires more families to consider organ donation,” he said.
Prof. H. S. Kohli, Head of the Department of Nephrology at PGIMER, said kidney transplantation could offer patients with advanced kidney disease greater independence and an improved quality of life. He noted that the availability of a suitable donor organ remained a major challenge and thanked Karanvir’s family for making transplantation possible for two patients.
Prof. Ashish Sharma, Head of the Department of Renal Transplantation at PGIMER, said kidney transplantation required careful donor-organ assessment, surgical expertise and close coordination among multidisciplinary medical teams. He emphasised that every transplant began with the generosity of a donor family.
Despite the unimaginable loss of his daughter, Jagdeep Singh chose to give two men, aged 38 and 32, an opportunity to rebuild their lives. The family’s decision, he said, reflected the life-changing impact of organ donation.
Dr. Navdeep Bansal, Transplant Coordinator at PGIMER, said organ donation required sensitive counselling, timely coordination and cooperation between donor families and medical teams. He said Jagdeep Singh’s decision, despite his profound grief, demonstrated the extraordinary difference one family could make.
Dr. Vijay Tadia, Nodal Officer, ROTTO North, said Karanvir’s story highlighted the life-saving potential of organ donation. He encouraged families to discuss organ donation openly and raise awareness so that more patients awaiting transplants could receive a second chance at life.
Although Karanvir’s dreams of travelling abroad and building a future were tragically cut short, her father’s decision has given two other individuals an opportunity to pursue their own journeys.
Her story stands as a poignant reminder that even in the face of unimaginable loss, organ donation can save lives and keep hope alive. Through the gift of her kidneys, Karanvir’s legacy will endure in the lives of two men who have received a renewed opportunity to live, dream and look forward to tomorrow.
