Another Story of Exemplary Courage, of Resolute Spirit:As Brave heart Family from Yamuna Nagar immortalises their 18 year old son Rajiv Kumar in Five others with the transplantation of Liver, Kidneys & Corneas at PGIMER

One again, it was unthinkable story of exemplary courage, of resolute spirit at PGIMER as the aggrieved but brave-heart family from Yamuna Nagar immortalised their 18 year old son Rajiv Kumar in five others through the kind act of organ donation.

With this magnanimous decision, the family of 18 year old Rajiv Kumar from village Urnai, Tehsil Pehowa, Kurukshetra, gave ‘gift of life’ to three terminally ill organ failure patients with the transplantation of liver and kidneys and enabled two more patients to restore their sights, thereby impacting five lives in all here in PGIMER.

Paying his obeisance to the donor family, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, expressed his sentiments, “I think you develop a different level of respect for the donor family, for their spirit of unconditional love amidst braving their own excruciating pain of losing their dear one in his prime. There cannot be a better teaching in humanity and compassion than organ donation.”
On the fateful day of 13th December, the happy world of young Rajiv Kumar’s family suddenly doomed as an unknown vehicle hit him, leaving him unconscious with the impact of the injury. The family first rushed critically injured Rajiv Kumar to civil hospital, Pehowa and then shifted him to PGIMER in an extremely precarious condition on the same day itself. i.e. 13th December.
However, nothing could change the destiny as Rajiv Kumar could not be revived and subsequently, after following the protocols as per THOA 1994, was declared brain dead in the evening hours of 16th December.
When it became clear that Rajiv Kumar would not survive his devastating injuries, the transplant coordinators at PGIMER approached Mrs Kamlesh, the grieving mother of Rajiv Kumar, to request if she could consider organ donation.
The brave-heart mother showcased immense grit and consented for organ donation of her young son. Still in shock due to the quirky turn of fate, Rajiv Kumar’s mother Mrs Kamlesh, said, “My son was always so full of life. We can never forget his smile, his laughter, his positive energy. He used to make alive even the dullest of the moments. Even In his passing also, he spread happiness by infusing life in others through organ donation.”
It was a sight of mixed emotion at PGIMER as the families of those who got second lease of life through transplantation were finding it difficult to convey their gratitude to the donor family for their courageous decision.
“We knew that liver transplant was the only option for surviving debilitating liver ailment for our son. With frequent hospitalisation and heavy medication, daily ordeal of managing even smallest of things, life has been a sheer torture and that too, with no hope of recovery. It seems God himself came in the guise of Donor and gave our son a second chance to live,” said one of the relatives of the 24 year old liver recipient with tears welling into his eyes.
The same sentiment was echoed by both the kidney recipients after they underwent surgery. “The decisions of the strangers who wanted only to help others, gave me a new lease of life. I can’t believe my luck, “ stated one of the kidney recipients.

Prof. Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER, while overseeing the entire process, said, ““Organ donation in India and especially in North India is still at a nascent stage. But all the efforts being put into improving public awareness about this altruistic cause are definitely indicating positive signs as many noble minds like that of the family of Rajiv Kumar are coming forward to take this brave decision. We can never thank them enough.”