Their life tragically cut short, no doubt they have left a huge hole in their family that will never be filled. But amid devastating grief their families have ensured that their loved ones, who are no more, give a life to the needy.
Rolly Prajapati, a six-year-old girl from Noida who died due to a gunshot wound on April 27, has become the youngest organ donor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. The doctors feel there should be some memorial or monument in her name to raise awareness about organ donation.
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Rolly’s liver went to a 7-year-old child from Lucknow and her kidneys to a 12-year-old. Her corneas were harvested and given to two adults. “Her heart valves have been stored… We didn’t have a recipient that day, so we took out the valves, which will be used for two children.
The children who received the organs are doing well, said Dr Deepak Gupta, professor of neurosurgery and in-charge of organ procurement services at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. The allotments of the donated organs were done by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), he said.
“Rolly was brought to us with a head injury. Various tests were conducted on her 12 hours apart, but she was found to be brain dead. We spoke to the family and suggested the option of organ donation, to which they consented,” Dr Gupta said. “She’s the youngest girl in Delhi-NCR and at AIIMS whose organs have been transplanted. There is a huge waiting list for children and many children die waiting for transplants,” he added.
Similarly, the family of a 37-year-old man who met with a road mishap in Gurgaon who was later declared brain dead at AIIMS Trauma Centre recently agreed for organ donation on May 17. Dr Gupta said that the deceased’s heart was used for transplant in a 17-year-old, while his liver and two kidneys were used to conduct transplant on three other patients — two male and one female.
In February, 19-year-old Lata who was brought to AIIMS’ emergency department with complaints of seizure couldn’t be saved despite all efforts by the doctors at the Neurosurgery Department. She was declared brain stem dead. Her parents were counseled about how Lata’s organ can save many.
After her parents agreed, Lata’s heart was successfully transplanted to a patient in AIIMS, her liver and one kidney was allocated to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, and the other kidney was sent to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital through the NOTTO.
Dr Aarti Vij, chief of organ retrieval and banking organisation, said in total five brain stem death donations took place at AIIMS this year till May 16. In addition, 104 corneas, four heart valves and four whole bodies were donated at the institute.
Of the five brain stem death donations, four took place at AIIMS Trauma Centre. She also appreciated strong decision of organ donation taken by the family in emotional moments when they have lost their dear one.