Doctors in Surat have accomplished the rare retrieval of organs from a four-day-old brain-dead infant, whose precious gift offered hope to children in need of transplants. From his tiny fragile form, two kidneys, two corneas, the liver and the spleen were clinically harvested. The kidneys are destined for an eight-month-old child at Ahmedabad’s Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre, while the liver embarks on a journey to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi, where it will become the lifeline for a 10-month-old child.
The infant’s journey began on October 13 when he entered the world in the Valak Patiya area of Surat. Sadly, he did not exhibit any movement or even cry, causing immediate concern. The infant was swiftly transported to a paediatric hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator.
Then came heart-wrenching news. “After multiple attempts to save my son’s life, doctors declared him brain dead. My wife and I were informed about organ donation, and we agreed, as it may light up the lives of many others ahead of Diwali,” said the infant’s father, who is a diamond artisan.
The couple was swayed by the heartfelt appeals of doctors and volunteers from the Jeevandeep Organ Donation Foundation (JODF). However, it was the infant’s grandmother who first recognized the significance of organ donation and convinced her family to make this choice.
Dr Nilesh Kachhadiya, a plastic surgeon and assistant professor at the state-run New Civil Hospital in Surat, recounted the process: “I was informed about the boy’s condition by his relative. After keeping him under observation for the required period, we started the process.”
Nilesh Kachhadiya, who has been tirelessly advocating for organ donation, also said: “This is the organ donation of the youngest patient in the country.”
Dr Pranjal Modi, convenor of the Gujarat State Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation, explained the significance of the Surat infant’s donation: “This is the first time that organs have been retrieved from such a young brain-dead patient. We may get to know the result of the transplants by Thursday.”
