They showed exemplary courage by taking the most difficult decision in trying circumstances, to save multiple lives. However, their acts worth emulation have received nothing more than a pat on the back. For the close kin of a few organ donors, life is a struggle every day.
Mangali Annapurna, for one, is left to fend for herself along with two small children.
Her husband Mangali Mallesham from Mominpet mandal of Ranga Reddy district died in an accident three months ago, after which three of his organs were harvested and transplanted.
“I agreed as I felt convinced that three people will live in my husband’s name,” she recalled amid tears, while speaking on the sidelines of an event in Gandhi Hospital where she was felicitated along with others.
However, death of her husband has resulted in destitution for her and her children. Her husband’s barber shop having been shut down, a frail Annapurna is now working as agricultural labourer. Unable to afford treatment for her eldest daughter’s nervous weakness, she travelled all the way from Mominpet with the sole hope that the government would be able to show her some livelihood option.
N. Hanumantha Reddy arrived from Kosgi mandal of Mahabubnagar district with similar anticipation.
His newly-wed daughter Sangeetha fell from a bike and died after being shifted from one hospital to the other. Her seven organs were harvested and transplanted, with permission from parents and husband.
“Sangeetha was the fifth of my eight daughters. I have three daughters to marry off, and a son who is not educated. Will the government offer some job for my son?” he asked queried after being felicitated.
Manoj Tiwari, husband of another donor Kalpana Tiwari, does not expect any help though.
They donated the organs of Kalpana Tiwari who died of cardiac arrest in July this year - ironically three months after she expressed her wish for organ donation.
“Our son had met Lalitha Raghuram from Mohan Foundation, and discussed organ donation with us. My wife said she would donate her organs, but we dismissed it as too early to think of. Little did we know that she would die very soon of cardiac arrest,” recalled Mr. Tiwari.
Despite objections from relatives, they volunteered for the donation, surprising even doctors.
Jeevandan Cadaver Transplantation Programme has received organs from 35 donors since its inception in January this year, said Gandhi Hospital’s Superintendent M. Chandrasekhar.
Though higher than last year’s 18, this is just a fraction of the 200 brain-dead cases recorded at the State’s recognised hospitals.
Noting lack of effort from government hospitals in this direction, Dr. Chandrasekhar promised to begin the organ transplantation protocol in Gandhi Hospital before December 15. Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Ajay Sawhney launched the website of Jeevandan ‘www.jeevandan.gov.in’.