In death, Hamirpur boy saves lives of four

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17

“Sahil was an active, healthy and lively boy who would light up even the dullest of the moments. Kind-hearted and sporty, he was an NCC cadet and loved playing outdoor games. Even in his death, he infused life in others through organ donation,” said an inconsolable Bhim Singh, father of 17-year-old Sahil, from Hamirpur in HP when he consented for his brain dead son’s organ donation.

Bhim Singh’s magnanimous gesture resulted in saving lives of four patients suffering from end-stage organ failure and battling for survival, one at Army Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi, second at IKDRC, Ahmedabad, and two at the PGIMER, Chandigarh. The retrieved corneas, on transplantation, will restore the sight of two corneal blind patients at the PGIMER.

PGI Director Prof Jagat Ram said, “It’s an extremely hard decision, but families like that of donor Sahil are a ray of hope and a silver lining in the dark lives of organ failure patients.”

It was the fateful day of October 8, when a joyous ride on Activa suddenly turned into an unprecedented tragedy for Sahil as the two-wheeler skidded on a bumpy road, making Sahil lose the balance and his head hitting the pavement leading to grievous head injuries. On getting the tragic news, the family first rushed Sahil to a local hospital and then shifted him to Government Medical College, Tanda. Seeing no improvement in his condition, Sahil was shifted to the PGIMER in an extremely critical condition on October 10.

But all efforts went in vain as Sahil could not be revived and subsequently was declared brain dead on October 15.

When it became clear that Sahil would not come out his devastating head injury, braveheart Bhim Singh showcased immense grit and consented for organ donation.

Prof AK Gupta, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER, said, “Following the family’s consent, we secured his heart, liver, kidneys and corneas. As the cross matching indicated no matching recipient for heart and liver in the PGIMER, we immediately got in touch with other transplant hospitals and finally heart was allocated to Army R & R Hospital, New Delhi, and liver was allocated to IKDRC, Ahmedabad.” Dr Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO, PGIMER, said, “To ensure safe and speedy transport of the harvested organs, two Green Corridors had to be created in conjunction with the retrieval timings.”