In an act of generosity, a 20-month-old toddler became the youngest cadaver donor by saving five lives.
A couple from Rohini in Delhi rushed their 20-month-old child “Dhanishtha” to Sri Gangaram Hospital, Delhi, after accidentally falling from her home’s first-floor balcony on the evening of January 8. On January 11, she was found brain dead.
“The doctor told us that Dhanishtha’s (daughter) condition is irreversible as her brain was dead. While her treatment was going on, we met other parents who were extremely worried about organs that were needed to cure their children. As her brain was declared dead, we asked the doctors if our daughter’s organs can be donated to save lives. The doctor said yes,” the father, Ashish Kumar told ANI.
“Together, we decided to go for this noble cause to save other children rather than burying/cremating her body. At least, we will have this consolation that she still lives in them,” Mr Kumar added.
According to the Chairman of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr DS Rana, “This noble act of the family is praiseworthy and should motivate others. At 0.26 per million, India has among the lowest rate of organ donation. On average, nearly 5 lakh Indians die every year due to lack of organs.”
As all other Dhanishtha organs working in excellent condition, her heart, her liver, her kidneys and both corneas were retrieved at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and were used in five patients.
Kidneys have been given to an adult, while her heart and liver have been donated to two children, while the cornea is in store.
“The number of transplant and cadaver availability is very less. Only 20 per cent to 30 per cent are cadaver donors. From a larger perspective, some 20,000 patients are waiting for a liver transplant,” said Dr Manish N Mehta, Co-Chairman and Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon of Sri Gangaram Hospital.
Dr Mehta also said that the distance between North and South India is also very high. When measured in terms of population per million, each cadaver donation in the South is one per million, while in the North it is 0.01.