When Vijayalakshmi realised her fiancée was suffering from chronic kidney ailment, she did not waver in her decision. She decided to go ahead with her commitment and then did the most unexpected thing.
She decided to donate her kidney to him, after doctors found that her kidneys were compatible to him. “My decision was immediate” the 23-year-old woman recalls. Surprised doctors removed her kidney and transplanted it to her husband Chiranjeevi, two years elder to her on March 18 and he is expected to get discharged from Global Hospitals next Monday. The gutsy woman has already been discharged.
Post the successful transplantation, the couple along with her family members spoke to mediapersons on Friday. “I owe my life to her. The big challenge now is to start our lives from scratch and eventually lead a quality life,” says Chiranjeevi.
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After marriage in July 2008, the couple struggled to make both ends meet due to prohibitive costs of dialysis and drugs. “I was ready to donate kidney, but did not have money for surgery. After the couple's plight was telecast on a Telugu news channel, Global Hospitals came forward to help.” Incidentally, on Friday, Global Hospitals completed 100 kidney transplants in one decade.
Vijayalakshmi and Chiranjeevi fell in love while working in a private firm in 2008. While she was a receptionist, he worked as a marketing executive Eventually, love blossomed and they decided to get married. “We were opposed to the marriage after his condition was known. But she was adamant and married him,” recalls Ram Reddy, the woman's younger brother. The family, after a lot of persuasion from the young couple, finally came around and accepted them .
“I am proud of my daughter for what she has done. They are not highly educated, but they are young and have a very positive attitude towards life,” felt Soma Reddy, father of Vijayalakshmi. The hospital surgeons said that the couple is recovering well.
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