68-year-old is longest-surviving kidney recipient in Asia, sets record

JAIPUR: Sixty-eight-year-old Krishna Ram Sharma was just 24 when he had undergone kidney transplant. In November last year, Asia Book of Records awarded him with a certificate for setting a record for the longest survival case of kidney transplant.
On Saturday, he came all the way from Hanumangarh to take part in a function organised by Kidney Care Foundation Society (KCFS) held in the city to celebrate World Kidney Day where he narrated his journey of being the longest-surviving transplant patient in Asia.
Born on July 6, 1953, Sharma suffered chronic kidney disease in 1977. “We can see now that centres have cropped up performing kidney transplants, but at that time it was difficult to find such a facility. When doctors diagnosed me of kidney failure in 1977, they advised me to go to CMC-Vellore for transplant,” said Sharma.
Sharma was a junior engineer at Indira Gandhi Nehar Pariyojna in Hanumangarh. Sharma’s brother Om Prakash Sharma, three years elder to him, who was 27 at that time, accompanied him to CMC-Vellore in March 1977.
When the question arose who will donate the kidney, his brother, father and sister came forward but his brother’s kidney was found suitable. “At that time, the cost of kidney transplant was Rs 35,000. My brother sold his tractor for the transplant. Another Rs 35,000 was arranged for expenses for a whole year in Vellore where I got a rented house to stay for regular follow ups and tests,”said Sharma.
The transplant was performed on June 10, 1977. The story of emotional bonding of the Sharma brothers is inspiring which he narrated it at the function in Jaipur. Sharma has retired from the post of AEN from the same department.
His brother also retired from government job. “He donated his kidney and he has spent his whole life normally with one kidney,” he said.
KCFS president Mujahid Naqvi said, “KR Sharma helps motivating kidney recipients by sharing his journey after receiving the kidney.” The organisation’s vice-president, Amit Kumar Sharma said, “KR Sharma is the longest surviving kidney recipient for which he has been awarded certificate from Asia Book of Records.”