We celebrate the 14th organ donation day on the 3rd of August. The country has seen a rise in organ donation, thanks to the selfless donor families of Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana & Gujarat. The state of Tamilnadu is a pioneer in the field of organ donation and has changed lives through cadaveric donations. Let me take you through the story of a recipient following an organ transplant. Sharing with the consent of the recipient family.
Ms. D 32-year-old lady was a single mother who was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung disease with irreversible lung disease, she has been on continuous oxygen support of 10 liters and wheelchair-bound since 2020. Ms. D was advised for a cadaveric lung transplant as a lifesaving procedure. She was evaluated and listed for a dual lung transplant with the government of Tamilnadu. She was eagerly waiting for the lung transplant for more than a year and a half. Her waiting period for the organ was agonizing in pain, she was unable to breathe well and depended on caretakers for her daily needs. She was unable to spend time with her daughter, it was for the little one for whom she wanted to live. Months passed, her health was deteriorating day by day and her family eventually lost hope in her. But God had other plans, a family in Delhi whose mother was declared brain dead on June 30th, 2023, where given the option of organ donation during the testing times, an option to carry her mother’s legacy forward. Her two daughters during the grieving time came forward to donate the organs for the person in need. The “yes to organ donation” changed the life of Ms. D. Our Kauvery retrieval team flew to Delhi and retrieved the organ for Ms. D. On the early hours of July 1st, 2023, in a span of 2 hours and 30 minutes the dual lung was flown from Delhi via air to Kauvery Hospital Chennai, the lung implantation was successfully completed by Dr. Kumud Dhital and team. Ms. D spent the next 21 days in the hospital on her road to recovery. During her discharge, she was free of oxygen and a wheelchair. Her dream came true, and she started a new life 2.0. She thanked the donor family and dropped a thanksgiving letter for the noble cause. On 1st July 2024 Ms. D completed her first-year anniversary of her dual lung transplantation, she visited our HLT OPD shared her joy, and thanked all the team members for their support. A wonderful sight to see.
In the present scenario, many have registered for organ transplants and are actively waiting for a call from the hospital. As of date, more than 100 recipients are waiting for heart and lung transplants. But we are still short of the mark, many of the families when approached for organ donation have denied the proceed due to various reasons. “If I donate, I will be born ill in the next life”, “My parents are against organ donation” and so on. On the contrary, every religion wants every individual to come forward for organ donation. A “yes” to organ donation saves 6 to 8 people at a time. Two kidneys, a liver, a heart, a lung, a pancreas, a small bowel, skin, and two corneas save the lives of many.
Ms. D’s story is one among the few success stories of our recipients whose life changed when the family said, “yes” to organ donation. Unfortunately, many were unable to get the organ in time and passed away on the waiting list. In our state of Tamil Nadu, the cadaver transplant program was formed by the late Chief Minister Dr. M. Karunanidhi who sowed the seed for the cadaver donation program. With the “Hithendran” effect the doctor’s family who lost their son in an accident came forward to donate his organs. This noble gesture kick started the successful cadaver transplant program of Tamilnadu. At present the government of Tamilnadu has passed a recent government order in September 2023 where all the “cadaver organ donors” shall be given the state honors for the noble cause. The concerned district representative of the state shall do the state honors in the residence or in the hospital where the deceased donation has taken place. This act has made more families come forward for organ donation. Following the good will our neighboring states have also passed the orders to honor the organ donors.
Key takeaway:
If you wish to donate your organs after death, take time to discuss your interest with your blood relative, and speak about your will to donate your organs after death. A key discussion that will enable your wish to happen.
Donation can be done at any age, it’s not a barrier. Even at the age of 100, you can donate your corneas & skin.
If you have any doubts about organ donation or queries on brain dead, reach out to a grief counsellor who can guide you with the necessary details.
“LIFE PASS IT ON”
Mr. Ruban Victor – M.S.W
Sr.Transplant Coordinator, Dept of Heart & Lung.
Kauvery Hospital Chennai
