RPGMC felicitates 3 braveheart donor families from Himachal for consenting for Organ Donation amid their own tragedy
& impacting 13 lives through Organ Transplantation at PGIMER
It was an extremely emotional moment with every one giving a standing ovation as the three braveheart donor families from Himachal Pradesh were felicitated by Prof. Rajnish Pathania, Director Medical Education and Research, Himachal Pradesh at the CME on Deceased Organ Donation organized at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda in collaboration with Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) PGIMER Chandigarh under the aegis of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India today.
Expressing his gratitude and paying rich tributes to the donors, Prof. Pathania stated, “Words cannot describe the self less gesture of all the four families. Their spirit of giving has touched every one. We are overwhelmed by their exemplary and altruistic gesture to have taken the decision to save others’ lives despite themselves facing the gravest tragedies. They have taught all of us a lesson in humanity and magnanimity.”
The brave-heart families felicitated on the occasion included those of donors Aditya Katoch from Kangra, Varsha Sharma from Hamirpur and Sushma from Una for consenting for Organ Donation amid their own tragedy that impacted 13 lives through Organ Transplantation at PGIMER Chandigarh.
Donor Aditya Katoch, all of 11 years became beacon of hope for five in-waiting organ and tissue failure patients as his parents’ generous decision of organ donation amid their own grim tragedy gave a fresh lease of life to three terminally ill organ failure patients after the successful transplant of one liver and two kidneys and restored the sight of two more with transplantation of corneas on 26th August 2015 at PGIMER Chandigarh, thereby impacting five lives in all.
Sharing his sentiments on the occasion, Arun Katoch, father of Aditya Katoch stated, “Nothing can console a parent over the death of their child. My son was so adorable, compassionate and creative. He had a 100 watt smile and spring in his feet. A brilliant student of 7th standard of Army Public School, he became the victim of a recklessly driven car that led to his fatal head injury. Who can fight with the destiny?”
Arun Katoch further said, “Aditya was rushed to the nearest hospital in an extremely critical condition, but seeing no progress, he was referred to PGIMER. It seemed as if Aditya’s mortal journey was destined to end as the untiring efforts of the attending medical team could not retrieve him from that precarious condition and finally Aditya was declared brain dead following the protocols of THOA after two meetings of the certification committee.”
“The family took the decision to donate Aditya’s organs so that we save other parents going through this life-long pain of losing their children which is unbearable,” shared the courageous father Arun Katoch.
Recalling the tragedy, the father-in-law of 29 year old donor Varsha Sharma said with moist eyes, “The day started as usual on 27th August 2016. Everyone in the family was busy in their routine chores as usual, completely oblivious of the impending doom till the moment when the wall on which Varsha had climbed to pluck vegetables suddenly crumbled and falling from the height, she became unconscious. The family immediately rushed her to the local hospital from where she was referred to PGI. However, despite the incessant efforts of the attending doctors, succumbed to her injuries and was declared brain dead on 31st August.
Showcasing exemplary courage and magnanimity, the husband Ajay Sharma did not let the tragic death go in vain and consented for organ donation. Following which, the kidneys and corneas were retrieved from the deceased Varsha, which through transplantation enabled second lease of life to two patients battling for survival and gave sight to another two, thereby impacting four lives in all at PGIMER Chandigarh.
The tragedy of sad demise of Sushma is no less painful. It was the fateful day of 30th January, 2019 when 35 years old Sushma, was critically injured after the scooter she was riding collided with a motorcycle on a turn, leaving her with severe head injuries leading to unconsciousness. Initially admitting her in a local hospital in Una, the family rushed her to PGIMER in an extremely critical condition on the same day.
However, the ceaseless efforts by the attending doctors and the ardent prayers of the family came to a sudden halt as Sushma could not be revived and subsequently, after following the protocols as per THOA 1994, was declared brain dead on the night of 31st January.
When it became clear that Sushma would not survive her devastating head injuries, the brave-heart husband Shamsher Singh along with his courageous brother-in-law Narinder Singh showcased immense grit and consented for organ donation which enabled giving a second lease of life to four with the transplantation of kidneys and corneas at PGIMER Chandigarh.
