A heartwarming moment capturing the legacy of 17-year-old Harpreet, whose selfless organ donation gave a second chance at life to three terminally ill patients.
The family of 17-year-old Harpreet Kaur from Mohalla Behlolpur, Bassi Pathana, Fatehgarh Sahib displayed strength, compassion, and altruism. They showed remarkable courage. They turned their personal tragedy into a beacon of hope. The family gave their consent to donate her organs after doctors at PGIMER Chandigarh declared her brain dead.
Paying heartfelt tribute to the donor family, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, expressed, “In a moment of profound personal grief, this family chose humanity. Harpreet’s gift of life stands as an enduring act of generosity and courage. Such stories instill hope and reinforce our belief that one life can indeed light up many.”
Harpreet was a bright and ambitious young girl. She was pursuing her Bachelor’s in Computer Applications (BCA). She met with a tragic accident due to a fall from height. Doctors initially admitted Harpreet to Civil Hospital, Fatehgarh Sahib. Later, they referred her to GMSH-32, Chandigarh. Eventually, they brought her to PGIMER on April 17, 2025, in a critical condition.
Despite all medical efforts, her condition deteriorated. The duly certified Brain Stem Death Committee declared her brain dead on April 20, 2025. This was in accordance with the Transplantation of Human Organs Act.
At this devastating juncture, her father Mr. Surinder Singh, made the extraordinary decision to donate all of Harpreet’s viable organs — a gesture that has gifted life to three terminally ill patients at PGIMER
Mr. Surinder Singh, the grieving father who made this noble decision, shared with quiet pride and emotion,”Harpreet was the light of our lives. Losing her is unbearable, but knowing that her organs are giving others a second chance at life gives us some peace. Her heart was always full of kindness, and this is exactly what she would have wanted.”
Following the family’s consent, the concerned teams swiftly acted, retrieving and transplanting Harpreet’s liver to a 51 year old male from Mohali, giving him a second lease of life. A 25 year old female from Solan became lucky as one of the retrieved kidneys and pancreas were simultaneously transplanted to her. The third lucky patient to have the other kidney transplanted and thereby, a second chance at life was 36 year old male from Chandigarh. Harpreet’s family performed a selfless act amid their grief. As a result, all three terminally ill patients have been granted a new lease on life.
Prof. T.D. Yadav, Deptt. of Surgical Gastroenterology, PGIMER spearheaded the liver transplantation of donor Harpreet. He noted, “Liver transplantation is one of the most challenging procedures in medicine. It requires immense precision and coordination. The complexities involved in matching and post-operative care test our skills. They challenge our resilience. However, the rewards of saving lives make every effort worthwhile.”
Reflecting on the broader significance of this donation, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent and Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER, added,”Harpreet’s story shows the power of organ donation. It is transformational.” The courage of her family, especially her father and maternal uncle Mr. Sukhwinder Singh, who guided and supported the consent process, is deeply inspiring. Their decision has directly saved three lives. It will inspire many more to consider organ donation as a way to create meaning in loss.”
The retrieved organs included both kidneys, liver, and pancreas. They were allocated and transplanted to three patients at PGIMER itself. This approach enabled the hospital to maximize organ utilization and improve transplant outcomes.
