10 heartwarming tales of the dead giving life to people

Organ donation in India may still be at a nascent stage, but of late a lot of touching stories have emerged of people donating out of their own will, or families agreeing to do so after a near one's death. Take a look

Jay Patel (red T-shirt) took the decision of donating the organs of his father, Ramesh (inset)

Surat resident's heart saves life of patient from Mumbai: "My father always helped people. We wanted him to help others even after his death. Now, he will always be remembered," said Jay Patel exclusively to mid-day. Jay is the son of 54-year-old Ramesh Patel, whose organs were donated to four persons on May 24, 2016. Ramesh, who worked as a petrol pump manager in Surat, had suffered a brain haemorrhage after an accident on Sunday afternoon and was declared brain dead by the next night. A 54-year-old Vikhroli resident at Fortis Hospital in Mulund, suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy - in which the heart's ability to pump blood drastically drops - received Ramesh's heart, which was transported from Surat in 77 minutes. The recipient's condition is stable post-transplant. (Full Story)

Deceased 22-year-old turns saviour; vital organs given for transplant: In March 2016, A 22-year-old man, who was declared brain dead after an accident, turned saviour for several patients, after his several organs and skin were donated for transplant, for which a green corridor was created in the city. "The victim, Pappu Davar, a resident of nearby Dhar district, got seriously injured in a road accident on March 3 and he was declared brain dead on March 6," Shantanu Bhagdikar, Executive Director of Shri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS) said. A local organization working for organ donation convinced Davar's family members for donating his organs. The deceased's heart and liver were transported within nine minutes to the city's Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, Bhagdikar said, adding they were sent to hospitals in Delhi for transplant. (Full Story)

Family donates organs of man who died due to blood clots in his brain: Rohan Chaubal (31), who passed away in May 2016 due to blood clots in his brain, will continue to live on. After he was declared brain dead, Rohan's family decided to donate his organs in the hope that it will help save lives. Rohan was admitted to Sushrusha Hospital in Dadar on May 3 after he suddenly collapsed. Post the incident his left side was paralysed. His wife Gauri Chaubal recalls, "A team of doctors from different hospitals had come to retrieve organs from Rohan for their patients who required them. Mulund's Fortis Hospital needed a heart, but the size did not match their requirement. Both kidneys were donated - one to Hinduja Hospital and the second to Jaslok Hospital. The skin has been donated to Sion Hospital. The liver was donated to Global Hospital and bone marrow to Tata Hospital." (Full Story)

19-year-old gives new lease of life to three patients on World Trauma Day: In October 2014, a 19-year-old college student, who was declared brain dead, gave a new lease of life to three persons by donating his organs on World Trauma Day. Abin Abraham, a final year Polytechnique student in a college at Alapuzha, had suffered serious head injuries when he fell down from the motorbike he was riding while trying to save a pedestrian on October 9. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and the next day shifted to Lakeshore hospital here where he underwent an emergency surgery. Since there was no improvement in his condition, the doctors declared him brain dead last evening, hospital sources said. The parents agreed to donate his organs. While his liver and kidneys were harvested on three different persons, the boy's eyes were sent to the eye bank at Little Flower Eye Hospital at nearby Angamally. (Full Story)

Family of brain dead youth donates organs, gives life to four: In January 2016, the family of a 19-year-old youth, who was declared brain dead following a road accident, donated his organs and ended up saving four lives. Ravidas, a resident of Paschim Vihar, was admitted to Maharaja Agrasen hospital after he met with an accident. He was declared brain dead after which the hospital authorities convinced his parents to donate their son's organs. While the youth's heart was transplanted to a 13-year-old girl at AIIMS suffering from heart ailment, his liver was shared with the Institute of Liver and Bilary Sciences (ILBS) where it was transplanted to a 60-year-old patient suffering from liver cancer. (Full Story)

In death, Mumbai woman gifts lease of life to 3 others: In August 2014, when Mulund resident Sreeram Gopal lost his 43-year-old wife Nandini a day after she suffered a headache and convulsions, his world came crashing down around him. Even as he grieved for the sudden and unexpected loss, Gopal can find some comfort in the fact that his wife will live on, in the lives of others. Less than a day after she was declared brain dead due to cerebral bleeding, Gopal and other family members decided to donate her organs, saving three lives in the process. Of the three women who got a new lease on life because of the donations, one was a 28-year-old woman admitted in Bombay Hospital, in need of a kidney. The two other beneficiaries a 47-year-old woman with a chronic kidney disease and a 72-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis had been on the waiting list in Fortis Hospital. (Full Story)

In death, man gives life to six: On November 12, 2009, Dr Sandeep Munot turned his personal tragedy into a moment of joy for six families. The doctor from Ruby Hall Clinic donated his dead father's kidneys, liver and corneas to six people. His father Devichand (67), suffered a brain stroke at his home, and was declared brain dead a day later. Six people who were in dire need of organ donation received the organs. While the liver was flown to Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram hospital by transplant surgeon Dr Arvinder Soin, who personally came to retrieve the organs, the kidneys were given to two women aged 43 and 42 from Pune, and the corneas went to two men aged 32 and 35. (Full Story)

Mumbai: Wife saves 3 with dead husband's organs: In March 2016, a 30-year-old woman received a kidney, a 43-year-old man received a liver and a 29-year-old female received also received a kidney transplant. All thanks to the family of William Lopez, who donated his organs after he died of brain haemorrhage on March 23. "His wife, Joice, played a major role in taking the decision. William has always been a helpful man. Unfortunately, the eyes and skin couldn't be donated due to the time gone by but we are happy that even in death, he gave new life to three people. The holy week expects us to help. What could be better than helping someone gain a new lease of life," said Sanjay Lopez, William's brother. (Full Story)

16-month baby girl becomes India's youngest cadaver donor: In March 2009, after losing their 16-month-old daughter Abhilasha, to a serious liver ailment, her parents couldn't just let her die. Wanting her spirit to live on in others, they donated her organs, making her India's youngest cadaver donor. The little girl from Bhopal suffered from a serious liver condition known as Biliary Atresia since birth. Just three months old, she underwent a complicated procedure in Bangalore to correct the disconnect between her liver and intestine. After Abhilasha was declared brain dead Feb 28, her parents decided to donate her organs. Abhilasha's two kidneys, her corneas and her skin tissues were used to help others. (Full Story)

Man run over by truck, donates eyes before dying: In February 2016, a 23-year old man in Bengaluru whose body was split into two after being run over by a speeding truck wished to donate his organs while lying on the deathbed. Harish Nanjappa died due to injuries within minutes of being taken to a hospital. (Watch Video)