JAIPUR: A 22-year-old man, who was working on contractual basis in a government agency, saved life of three persons as his family members donated his organs after he was declared brain dead while he was undergoing treatment for the head injuries he had suffered on February 21 in Niwai of Tonk district.
Taking a brave decision, family members of Akshay Kumar, who had met with a road accident, gave their consent for cadaveric
organ donation during counselling. It was the 30th cadaveric organ donation reported in the state, till date.
He was rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jaipur for treatment on February 22. According to hospital administration officials, the doctors had to remove part of Kumar’s skull to relieve the pressure on his brain. A portion of the skull was removed as his brain was constantly swelling. But, all their efforts went in vain as a committee formed in the hospital for examining patients for declaring them brain dead checked his health and found that there was no hope for Kumar to regain consciousness. “After performing certain tests, the committee declared him brain dead,” said Dr R C Gupta, medical superintendent, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
Family members gave their consent for kidney and liver donation but denied donation of heart and cornea because of their belief.
Kumar was someone who always extended a helping hand to his friends and his family. He was leading a happy life as he was married just one-and-a-half-year ago. He has a daughter just a few months old. But, the fateful night of February 21 brought agony and pain. He was returning after attending the wedding ceremony of his friend when his motorbike skid and he suffered head injury in Niwai of Tonk district. His family rushed him to Jaipur for treatment. But, he never gained consciousness. He was declared ‘brain dead’.
His liver was transplanted into a 52-year-old woman, who was Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) for a long time. Because of her medical condition, her liver was not functioning properly. The
transplant
was performed in the same hospital where Kumar was declared brain dead. Also, one of the two kidneys was transplanted in the hospital where he was undergoing treatment while his other kidney was transported to Sawai Man Singh Hospital, where a 45-year-old woman received the kidney.
“The woman was on dialysis for over a year. Her kidneys were not functioning because of certain medical renal disease,” said Dr S S Yadav, spokesperson, SMS Hospital.
Besides, a 47-year-old man received one of the two kidneys donated by Kumar’s family.
“It was a challenging surgery as the patient who has received the kidney had suffered cardiac arrest five years ago. His kidneys were damaged due to high sugar levels. He was on dialysis for the past five years. The surgery was difficult as his blood pressure was quite low and his heart was functioning at 30% of its capacity,” said Dr Suraj Godara, consultant nephrologist and transplant physician at the hospital.