Hit-&-run victim gives new lease of life to 2

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9

Organ donation in India is still at a nascent stage. But the efforts being put into improving public awareness about this altruistic cause are definitely indicating positive signs as many generous families like that of Gian Chand from Solan are coming forward to take this decision amid their gravest tragedy, thereby, vividly conveying the message “live and then give.”

Prof Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO, PGI, said: “We thank donor Gian Chand’s family for the gracious gift to others amid its own irreparable loss.”

Himself a victim of hit-and-run accident, Gian Chand (42) from Gulggiwala village in Nalagarh, Solan district, gave life to two terminally ill renal failure patients and sight to two corneal blind patients, thereby impacting four lives and sustaining hope for many more recipients as his family went ahead with the generous decision of organ donation at the PGI.

On January 3, Gian Chand was returning home on his two-wheeler. On the way, he stopped to pick something from the market. As soon as he got down from his two-wheeler, a speeding car rammed into him, throwing him off at quite a distance and making him unconscious due to fatal head injuries.

After the initial treatment at a local Civil Hospital, Gian Chand was referred to the PGI in an irretrievable condition and was admitted there on January 4. Despite best of medical attention, Gian Chand could not be revived. Consequently, Gian Chand bid adieu to life when he was declared brain dead on January 5.

Trying to come to terms with this cruel twist of fate, Surinder Kaur, wife of Gian Chand, shared, “My husband’s untimely demise has come as a bolt from the blue. He was the lifeline of our family and he has been so mercilessly snatched by the almighty leaving behind three daughters and one son, all of them at such a tender age. We could do nothing but cry and wail. Nobody can be more unfortunate than us.”

Gian Chand’s grieving but resolute younger brother Narinder Pal expressed his sentiments, “Through organ donation, I want my brother’s memory to live on. I just want the world to know that I’m so proud of him. Despite losing his own life, his legacy is living on by helping four others continue with their lives, and their parents and all lives that are being touched as a result.”