Karnataka family donates teen’s organs, gives lease of life to three people

Bengaluru: In a display of humanity, the bereaved family of Darshan, a 19-year-old from Mandya, gave a new lease of life to three people by donating his organs after her was declared brain dead. The organ retrieval was carried out at the Trauma & Emergency Care Centre (TECC) of Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru, where the teenager was receiving treatment.Darshan, who was the sole breadwinner for his family, is survived by his father and sister.
The teeanger fell off his motorcycle near Chikka Mandya in Mandya on Feb 22. He returned home and went to sleep without going to hospital. His family noticed that he was displaying unusual symptoms and admitted him to a hospital in Mandya, from where he was referred to the TECC in Bengaluru after doctors discovered a severe internal brain haemorrhage.Darshan arrived unconscious at the TECC, and despite the medical team's efforts, he was declared brain dead on Tuesday morning. Karnataka's State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Jeeva Sarthake then counselled the family to donate his organs.Following the family's consent, Darshan's organs were retrieved and transplanted into eligible recipients, with poor patients in govt facilities receiving priority. His liver was allocated to a 26-year-old male at the Institute of Gastroenterology and Organ Transplant (IGOT), one kidney was allocated to another 26-year-old male, and the 2nd kidney to a 38-year-old male at the Institute of Nephro-Urology. His heart valves were allocated to another hospital. Darshan's body was handed over to his family at 5 am on Wednesday.The medical officers at Victoria Hospital noted how, despite their limited education and weaker socio-economic background, the teenager's family took a noble and bold decision to donate Darshan's organs. "We are deeply grateful to the family members who, even in their moment of profound grief, made the noble decision to serve society and brighten others' lives," said Dr Asima Banu, special officer at TECC, and Dr Deepak S, medical superintendent, Victoria Hospital.