PGIMER again witnesses exemplary ‘Spirit of Giving’
As the donor family’s self less Decision of Organ Donation amid their own tragedy impacts 6 Lives
With Transplant of Heart at Delhi & Lungs at Chennai
Sent through 2 Green Corridors
& Kidneys & Corneas here at PGIMER
Chandigarh: 04 February : PGIMER again witnesses exemplary ‘Spirit of Giving’ as another donor family overcame their unbearable heartache of losing their dear one for a greater cause that impacted six lives.
The donor family turned their gravest tragedy into a precious gift of life for four patients suffering from end-stage organ failure and battling for survival, one at Delhi, another at Chennai and two more at PGIMER Chandigarh. The retrieved corneas, on transplantation restored the sight of two corneal blind patients here at PGIMER.
Prof. Surjeet Singh, Director PGIMER, expressing PGIMER’s gratitude to the donor family, stated, “”Our mission at PGIMER is to honour the donor family’s decision, perhaps the hardest and incredibly moving one of their lives, of organ donation of their deceased dear one. Our hearts go out to donor families and we thank them for their gracious gift to others despite their own irreparable loss. At the same time, we at PGIMER feel humbled by the trust reposed by the donor families in the institute for their bravest decision.”
The day of 27th January started as usual on a happy note but ended with a pall of gloom for the donor family from Himachal Pradesh, as one of their male members, aged around 50, was brutally hit in a head-on collision, leaving him unconscious with fatal head injuries.
Initially rushed to a local private hospital, the donor was brought to PGIMER in an extremely precarious condition on 28th January. However, the destiny had willed otherwise as the donor finally succumbed to his injuries and was declared brain dead after the two meetings of the brain death certification committee here at PGIMER on the evening of 1st February.
After it became clear that donor would not survive his devastating head injuries, the Transplant Coordinator at PGIMER approached the family of deceased to request if they could consider organ donation. The resolute and brave heart family showcased immense grit and consented for organ donation.
The grief-stricken but brave-heart wife of the donor who wanted to keep her identity anonymous due to her personal sentiments, said “It’s something no family should have to go through. We said yes to Organ Donation because we knew this could help someone else and they wouldn’t need to go through the heartache that we are going through.”
“We just want people to know about the cause and not who did it as we have done it so that our son re- lives through others. We have done it for our own peace and solace,” recalled the donor’s father maintaining his calm despite the grave tragedy.
Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent cum Head, Deptt. of Hospital Administration, PGIMER and Nodal Officer, ROTTO (North), while detailing about the latest case, said, “Respecting the family’s decision, we secured the heart, lungs, kidneys and corneas. Once the donor organs became available, everyone swiftly got into action leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the donor’s legacy continues.
Prof. Koushal further added, “As the cross-matching indicated no matching recipient for heart and lungs here in PGIMER, we immediately got in touch with other transplant hospitals to explore options for matching recipients and finally, heart was allocated for a matching recipient, a 44 year old BSF personnel posted in Delhi and admitted in AIIMS, New Delhi and lungs were allocated for another matching recipient, a 29 year old male from Bahrain, admitted in MGM Healthcare Chennai with the active intervention of NOTTO”
Elaborating about the Green Corridors created for the case, Prof. Koushal shared, “Two Green Corridors were created on 2nd February in conjunction with the retrieval timings from PGIMER to Technical AirPort Chandigarh at around 3 pm to enable safe passage for the transport of retrieved heart for the onward Vistara Airlines flight to Delhi scheduled at 3.25 pm and retrieved lungs for the onward chartered flight to Chennai scheduled at 3.55 pm.”
Prof. Koushal concluded, “With everyone pitching in, the procedural formalities, harvesting process as well as transportation of the organ was completed despite the time crunch. The credit is due to commendable efforts by PGIMER Security Deptt., Chandigarh & Mohali Police, CISF and Airport Staff on duty that we accomplished in making it on time through the green corridors.”
