Saving humanity — in life and death

Chandigarh, September 15

“God has a purpose for your life. I think my wife Surinderjit Kaur Bhatia came into this world to save the lives of others. A blood donor for 48 times, she must have enhanced lives of hundred critically ill patients. So I wanted to make sure through organ donation that her ‘spirit of giving’ continues, said Manjit Singh Bhatia, husband of the deceased organ donor at the PGI.

A picture of composure and poise himself, Bhatia turned his grim tragedy into a triumph for two terminally ill renal failure patients and two corneal blind patients with his generous gesture of organ donation.

Sharing about his inspiration for the noble deed, Bhatia, a businessman from Morinda, who has donated blood for 52 times, said, “The PGI is an inspiration. When you see patients suffering from so much pain and trauma, your heart melts and you want to do something to alleviate their pain. That has been the sole motivation for our blood donation since years. I vividly remember when we were awarded Couple Blood Donor Award by PGI’s blood bank amid rousing applause.”

“When the doctors told me about my wife’s irretrievable condition, I thought that she lived her entire life caring for others only, it seemed right that it should be her final act as well,” said Bhatia, who immortalised his wife with his decision of organ donation.

Expressing his gratitude to the donor’s family, PGI Director Prof Jagat Ram said, “The family is an epitome of compassion and benevolence. Their noble deed of 100 blood donations and now organ donation is far more magnanimous than any eulogy. These are the people who instil confidence in humanity and who make PGI an inspiration. We honour the resolute spirit of the family and determined effort by the PGI team involved in the process to enable the family fulfil their wish by giving life to others.”

Surinderjit Kaur, 49, was admitted to Max Hospital, Mohali, on September 10 following an intra cranial bleed. She could not be revived and became brain dead on September 12.

On being informed about the brain death, the family showcased exceptional initiative and expressed willingness to donate Surinderjit’s organs to the attending doctors. The donor was shifted to the PGI and was certified brain dead on September 13.

Following the family’s consent, kidneys were retrieved and were transplanted to two terminally ill patients suffering from renal ailment. The retrieved corneas, on transplantation, restored the sight of two corneal blind patients at the PGI. Prof Vipin Koushal, nodal officer, ROTTO, PGIMER, detailing about this cadaver donation experience stated, “It seems we have come a long way through awareness generation. These families are the bedrock of the cadaver donation programme as they sustain faith in the cause. Surinderjit’s story is a story of resurrection.”

Noble gesture

• Surinderjit Kaur, 49, was admitted to Max Hospital, Mohali, on September 10 following an intra cranial bleed. She could not be revived and became brain dead on September 12. 
• Following the family's consent, kidneys were retrieved and were transplanted to two terminally ill patients suffering from renal ailment. The retrieved corneas, on transplantation, restored the sight of two corneal blind patients at the PGI.Tribune News Service