Chandigarh : Life sprang from death again at PGIMER and luck smiled on two patients suffering from terminal renal diseases and hanging in the hope of finding a kidney donor and two other corneal blind patients endlessly waiting for restoration of their sight when a benevolent family from village district Mohali displayed an exemplary gesture of magnanimity and consented to donate the organs of their dear one amid their terrible loss. The donor family’s compassion gave fresh lease of life to both the renal failure patients with the transplantation of kidneys and brought smiles to the other two corneal blind patients with the ‘gift of sight’,”
Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, while paying his obeisance to the brave-heart family of Banty, stated, “It takes grit, an elevated sense of social responsibility and a heart to do what the family of Banty has done. In their act of exemplary courage, they have not only helped give people in end-stage organ failure a second chance to live but have also inspired many more people to donate organs. Donor Banty has not died, instead he will live in four different lives and in the hearts of all of us for his kind act."
Detailing about the latest case of organ donation, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent PGIMER cum Nodal Officer, ROTTO stated, “The consistent efforts at creating awareness about noble cause are paying dividends as PGIMER continues to trend up in organ donation. With the latest case, PGIMER witnessed 30 deceased organ donations till date in the year 2022 and the magnanimity of all these 30 donor families has given second lease of life to 85 organ failure patients and restored the sight of 48 corneal blind patients, thereby, impacting 133 lives tangibly and kindling hope in thousands of in-waiting recipients.”
Banty, 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. After the mishap, Banty was immediately rushed to PGIMER, Banty was shifted here to PGIMER on the same day in a precarious condition.
As the ill luck would have it, all the efforts to save Banty proved ineffective with his condition worsening and he was put on life support. However, nothing could reverse the critical condition of Banty and after four days’ of struggle between life and death, Banty was declared brain-dead on 1st October, after following the protocols of THOA.
Still in shock and disbelief, the young bereaved wife Nitu Rani said, “Destiny has played havoc with us. It was so sudden, in four days my husband, the sole bread earner of the family, had gone, and we were all left empty handed with my two small daughters, not able to do anything.”
When the transplant coordinators approached the family to consider organ donation, the idea of having a chance to save someone else’s life made sense to them even though they didn’t have the heart to take Banty off life support. Finally, the family showcased unprecedented courage and consented, braving their own grave tragedy.
Following the family’s decision, the kidneys retrieved from the donor Banty were transplanted to two terminal patients suffering from “end-stage debilitating kidney ailment” and dependent on kidney dialysis for long. Apart from the kidneys, 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 here at PGIMER.
“I can’t thank the donor’s family enough for their kindness to have given a second lease of life. How courageous it was of them despite their own grim tragedy, said the family members of kidney recipients in unison as the recipients were recovering well in PGIMER.