After losing own, family gives life to three by donating organs | Delhi News – Times of India

New Delhi: Amid the unfathomable grief of losing a loved one, the family of a 37-year-old corporate employee transformed their sorrow into hope for others. After he was declared brain dead on May 12, his family made the heart-wrenching yet generous decision to donate his organs, a choice that went on to change the lives of three people.The patient, a father to a nine-year-old child, was admitted to Manipal Hospital on May 1 following a sudden brain haemorrhage and loss of consciousness. Despite efforts of the ICU medical team, his life could not be saved. In the depths of despair, his wife, supported by her family and the compassionate counselling team at the hospital, chose to honour his memory through the gift of life.This selfless act, facilitated by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), ensured that his liver and both kidneys were allocated to those in dire need. Although his heart and lungs were unsuitable for transplantation, his other organs carried promise for the receivers.His liver gave a 61-year-old man a second chance at life, and his kidneys brought renewed health to a 52-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman. Their gratitude is immeasurable, their lives forever changed by a family’s courage and compassion amidst their darkest hours.Dr Shrikanth Srinivasan, chairman of Manipal Institute of Critical Care Medicine, said: “The family’s strength and compassion in such a difficult time is truly inspiring and serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one life can have on many.”Dr (Col) Avnish Seth VSM, head, Manipal Organ Sharing and Transplant (MOST), said: “Organ donation should be an essential component of end-of-life care. Transparency in the allocation of organs as per the waiting list, like it is being done in our country by NOTTO, gives a lot of confidence to the family to arrive at the correct decision.”Statistical data reveals a substantial disparity between organ requirements and availability in India. Annually, 1.8 lakh people experience kidney failure, whilst only 13,426 kidney transplants were conducted in 2023. The country requires 25,000 to 30,000 liver transplants yearly, but merely 4,491 procedures were done in 2023. Heart transplants numbered only 221, despite thousands suffering from cardiac failure.Corneal transplants stand at 25,000 annually, significantly lower than the required 1 lakh procedures.