24-year-old donates organs, saves lives in death

Chennai: A 24-year-old man from Kanyakumari, declared brain dead after a road accident near Cheyyar, gave a new lease of life to multiple patients after his family consented to donate his organs at Saveetha Hospital.

“In our community, it is customary to cremate the youngest child. We did not want our son’s life, efforts and organs to turn to ashes. When doctors explained the importance of organ donation, we agreed without hesitation,” said the youth’s father Velkutti, who belongs to the traditional potter community. “Though we are deeply saddened by Suresh’s passing, we are happy that he will continue to live through others,” he added.

The donor, V Suresh, was from Erwadi in Kanyakumari district and was employed at a private industrial unit in Cheyyar, Tiruvannamalai district. On May 22, Suresh was riding pillion on a motorcycle which collided head-on with a speeding lorry. While one of his friends died on the spot, Suresh and another injured youth were rushed to Kancheepuram district govt headquarters hospital before being referred to Saveetha Hospital for advanced treatment.

A specialized surgical team at the hospital carried out a successful cadaveric multi-organ retrieval. The organs were allocated to various hospitals in accordance with the guidelines of the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN). Hospital authorities said one kidney had already been transplanted into a recipient, while the liver transplant was scheduled to be performed soon.