Heart of gold: Families of organ donors honoured
AIIMS
on Friday to pay tribute to organ and tissue donors.
Aarti, a resident of Mainpuri, said Ananya slowly stopped asking for her father after his death. "But today, she recognised him again," she said, holding her daughter close. "It felt like he had returned, even if just for a moment."
Raju fell from the terrace of their home on Feb 27 this year and was admitted to AIIMS in a critical condition. After over a week in the ICU, he was declared brain dead. "It was the hardest decision of our lives," Aarti said, recalling how the family ultimately chose to donate his organs.
"But we thought — if he could save others, let him live on through them."
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His liver, kidneys, and heart were donated. The family, however, held back his eyes. "We couldn't bear the thought of performing his last rites without them," she added. Since Raju's death, little Ananya often wandered around the house searching for her father. That Friday, as his photo glowed on the screen, she remembered — and so did everyone else.
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Among the 24 donor families honoured at the event was the family of Ashok Kumar Wadhwa. His only son, Samarth Wadhwa, from the Greater Kailash area in south Delhi, shared how they decided to donate Ashok's eyes and skin after he passed away after a cardiac arrest on Nov 1 last year, a day after Diwali.
"My 88-year-old aunt insisted that we must donate whatever is possible," Samarth said. "Our mother was very clear — there was no hesitation.
We contacted AIIMS, and their team came home and handled everything with full dignity and respect." Though only his eyes and skin could be donated, Samarth said, "Even that is precious. These tissues can help burn victims or people who lose vision due to accidents or firecrackers.
"
Kalita Devi, wife of Puran Chand from Uttarakhand, also shared her story. Her husband slipped down the stairs and suffered a fatal head injury.
"We rushed him to AIIMS, but he didn't survive. He was declared brain dead in the first week of July," she said. "The AIIMS staff counselled us and we agreed to donate his organs, including lungs and kidneys. Instead of turning to ash, his organs have given life to others."
The ceremony was presided over by professor M Srinivas, the director of AIIMS, New Delhi. "Each year, many lives are lost to end-stage organ failure due to non-availability of organs," he said.
"It is vital to dispel myths and promote a positive outlook on organ and tissue donation within society." He called the donor families' act of generosity during their time of deepest grief "a noble deed that has given new life to many and stands as a testament to human compassion.
"
Prof. Aarti Vij, who heads the Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation (ORBO), added that transplant coordinators, physicians, forensic experts, support staff, laboratory services and even police play vital roles in ensuring each step is carried out smoothly and respectfully.
Among those remembered was Gopal Singh, a factory worker declared brain dead after a road accident in May. His organs saved multiple lives.
Anish Banerjee, 26, a regular blood donor, also suffered a fatal brain injury. His family honoured his spirit by choosing
organ donation
.
Manoj Kumar Kaushik, an EPFO employee, died of a head injury. His wife and sister said they made the decision so "his memory could live on by giving others life."
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