Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 27
The PGI achieved yet another milestone by performing the third heart transplant and the 25th liver transplant yesterday. The institute had conducted its first heart transplant in 2013 and the second in 2015. The heart transplant recipient is stated to be doing fine after a nearly 10-hour surgery performed by a team of experts from the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CTVS).
Magnanimous gesture
The selfless and magnanimous gesture of the family of deceased Kiran (name changed), hailing from a village in Punjab, gave a new lease of life to four critical patients and gave the gift of sight to two more. This was the 25th cadaver organ donation of the year at the PGI.
Kiran (35) had suffered irreversible brain damage caused by a freak injury sustained in a road accident. She was rushed to the PGI on October 19 and declared brain dead on October 25.
“The transplant coordinators told us that organ donation can save several lives,” said the parents of the deceased who willingly consented to donate all her vital organs. Her lungs were also donated for medical research.
Recipients’ families salute ‘heroic’ donor
The families of all six recipients, especially that of Sukhjeet (name changed), who has received Kiran’s heart, are finding it hard to express their gratitude to the donor family. “The donor family is nothing less than God for us,” said Sukhjeet’s brother, struggling to find words to thank the family suitably.
The same sentiment was echoed by the husband of Sarita (name changed) as the cadaver liver came as a life saver for her. “No words are enough to thank the family,” he said with tears in his eyes.Equally indebted are the families of the two recipients of kidneys, pancreas and two recipients of corneas. “We can’t thank the family enough for its generosity. They have ended our ordeal of years,” they said in unison.
PGI thankful too
Dr Vipin Koushal, nodal officer, ROTTO, PGI, said, “It is an extremely hard decision for anyone to make but families like that of Kiran instil a sense of confidence not only for the in-waiting recipients but also for the organ donation programme.”