Offering a lifeline and a renewed opportunity for those grappling with critical health challenges, organ donation emerges as a beacon of selflessness where the gift of life can flourish.

In a posthumous display of altruism, Meena Mehta’s organs, including a kidney, hands, liver, and corneas, became the source of new life for recipients at Fortis Gurgaon and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Mehta was the Administration head of New Greenfields School, Kalkaji.

“This successful tale of cadaver organ donation unfolds as a testament to the compassion and selflessness that thrive even in the face of loss,” Sir Gangaram Hospital said in a statement.

The hospital also undertook North India’s first bilateral hand transplantation when Mehta’s hands were transplanted to Rahul (name changed), a 45-year-old resident of Nangloi, Delhi, who had lost both his hands in a tragic accident while crossing a railway track in October 2020.

After a painstakingly long operation lasting more than 12 hours, two arms from Mehta were transplanted successfully to Rahul.

A dedicated team of surgeons collaborated to execute this intricate procedure, delicately reattaching various components, including bones, arteries, veins, tendons, muscles, nerves, and skin. Precision and expertise were the keys to ensuring the seamless integration of the transplanted hands into Rahul’s body. Dr AK Bhalla, secretary, BOM and chairman, Department of Nephrology, Sir Gangaram Hospital, said, “The recipient of kidney transplant is recovering fast.” Dr Ajay Swaroop, chairman and BOM, Sir Gangaram Hospital added, “Multi-organ transplant team worked for 12 hours to perform these transplants of the liver, kidney, both hands and corneas. This is the first bilateral hand transplant in north India.”

The surgical process, was conducted by a dedicated team of surgeons led by Dr Mahesh Mangal, Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery, and his team comprising Dr SS Gambhir, Dr Anubhav Gupta, Dr Bheem Nanda, and Dr Nikhil Jhunjhunwala.