Brain dead man gives new life to 8 people

Thota Manikanta will continue to live in eight others after his death. His vital organs are set to give a new life to patients at hospitals in Chennai, Hyderabad and Guntur.

Manikanta’s heart will be transplanted in a patient in Chennai. His lungs will go to another in the City. A patient in Hyderabad will get his liver and two patients in Guntur his kidneys. His eyes will offer a vision to two patients at Sankara Eye Hospitals, Guntur.

Superintendent of NRI Hospitals K. Buchhi Babu said that this was the first ever cadaver heart transplant carried out between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Manikanta, a 22-year-old car driver, was a resident of Ramavarrapadu in Vijayawada. On the night of March 3, he was driving back home when a vehicle crashed into his car on the Ring Road in Vijayawada. Manikanta suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to Metro Hospital at Vijayawada in a critical condition. A team of surgeons tried in vain to save his life. He was declared brain dead after a few hours. It was doctors at the hospital who suggested to his family that his organs could save many lives. His sister, Siva Nagajyothi, who works as a nurse, gave her consent and the body was rushed to NRI Hospitals, Mangalagiri, where a dedicated cadaver transplantation facility is available.

“My brother was a huge fan of actor Pawan Kalyan and was always willing to help people. We believe he is fulfilling his dream in his death,” said Nagajyothy fighting back her tears.

The requirements came instantly. Fortis Hospitals, Chennai placed a request for heart and lung. Global Hospitals at Hyderabad wanted the liver and City Hospitals in Guntur the kidneys. The day began with surgeons at the NRI Hospital taking up procedures for organ transplantation. A team of surgeons from Fortis Hospitals, Chennai, led by heart surgeon Dr. Balakrishnan began the surgery at 2 p.m. and completed it by 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the hospitalsought the help of the police to create a green channel on the National Highway leading to Gannavaram airport. The organs were taken to Chennai in an air ambulance. The other organs were taken to Hyderabad on a regular flight.