With PGIMER’s handholding, GMCH, sector 32 accomplishes 1st case of Organ Donation & Transplantation after its designation as Retrieval centre
Brave-heart Family of 20 year old son Shahanwaz, consents for Organ Donation, thereby, saving 4 lives
Heart shared with R&R Hospital for Matching Recipient through Green Corridor
Liver, Kidneys & Pancreas Transplanted here at PGIMER
Chandigarh: 6 September: With PGIMER’s handholding, Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32 accomplished its first case of Organ Donation & Transplantation after its designation as Retrieval Centre, when the compassionate gesture of organ donation by the brave heart family of 20-year-old Shahanwaz, reversed the fortunes of four unfortunate organ failure patients with the transplantation of Heart, Liver, Kidneys, and Pancreas.
Lauding the proactive demeanour of Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER stated, “We at PGIMER are always there for back end support. but the medical colleges and hospitals across the region have to take the first step. We highly commend Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32 for taking this huge initiative. This exemplary act will give an impetus to the deceased organ donation programme in the region.”
Prof. Jasbinder Kaur, Director Principal, Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, while extending her unflinching support to the cause, sad, “It was very heartening that GMCH 32 and PGIMER in tandem and together, we enabled GMCH, Sector 32 accomplish its first case of organ transplantation after being designated as Retrieval Centre.”
“it goes to the credit of treating team led by Dr. Vipin Gupta from Neurosurgery department here in GMCH, 32 as they counselled the family regarding the noble cause of organ donation and later shifted the patient to PGIMER to proceed further on organ donation. We need this kind of synergy and cooperation among hospitals to save precious lives, otherwise lost due to the lack of organs,” said Prof. Gurbinder Kaur.
Paying her reverence to the ‘spirit of giving’ of the donor family, the Director Principal, GMCH, Sector 32, said, “ Every donor is special and unique story of Shahanwaz shows the extraordinary difference a ‘Yes’ can make. It is as extraordinary, as life-changing as the difference between life and death. So shouldn’t we all be saying yes to organ donation. This will be our real tribute to the magnanimous and selfless sacrifice of the donor families like that of Shahanwaz.”
On 26th August, the day started as usual for 20-year-old Shahanwaz originally hailing from village Saral Alam, District Bijnour, Uttar Pradesh and now residing in District Mohali, Punjab, completely oblivious of the impending doom till the moment when going for work on his bike, while maneuvering his way from another two-wheeler coming from the opposite side, Shahanwaz lost his balance and the bike skidded, leaving him unconscious due to the impact of head injuries.
Without wasting any time, the family rushed Shahanwaz first to a local hospital in Sohana and then to Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh.
Despite best of the medical attention, when Shahanwaz’s condition became irretrievable due to devastating head injuries, Dr. Vipin Gupta from Deptt. of Neuro Surgery, GMCH, Sector 32,approached Hafijan, the grief-stricken mother of Shahanwaz and apprised her about the prognosis and requested if she could consider organ donation.
As the family showed willingness, Dr. Vipin Gupta immediately got in touch with PGIMER to proceed further with organ donation. The team of transplant coordinators from PGIMER went to GMCH 32 and detailed the family of Shahanwaz about the process of organ donation. Despite confronted with the worst nightmare of her life, Hafijan expressed willingness for organ donation of her demised son.
Further, Dr. Gupta also coordinated for all the necessary arrangements including Green Corridor from GMCH 32 to PGIMER to shift Shahanwaz here in PGIMER on 1st September 2022. Later, Shahanwaz was declared brain dead after the brain death certification committee met twice following the protocols of THOA on 2nd September.
“Our tragedy is too gruesome for words. With my son’s demise, our world is doomed. After his father’s demise, Shahanwaz was the only bread earner and a ray of life for me. It seems Shahanwaz life had a purpose. His mortal journey has ended because others were to live because of him through Organ Donation. Shahanwaz was able to do more than many can achieve in a lifetime of hundred years,” expressed brave heart Hafijan after she consented for Organ Donation of her deceased son.
Following the family’s consent, doctors at the PGIMER initiated the process of procurement of organs. Simultaneously, different series of tests like cross-matching were conducted to determine the compatibility with the intended recipients.
Observing no matching recipient for heart here in PGIMER, Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO) PGIMER approached National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) in Delhi and accordingly with NOTTO’s intervention, retrieved heart of the donor was allocated for a matching recipient admitted in R&R Army Hospital in New Delhi.
To ensure rapid transportation, a Green Corridor was created between PGIMER and Technical Airport by the Army, from where it was airlifted to its destination in Delhi at 8 am on 3rd September.
Meanwhile, the matching recipient at R&R Hospital in Hospital was prepped and kept ready and the transplantation took place as soon as the heart arrived at the R&R hospital in New Delhi.
In the meantime, the liver, kidneys, and pancreas retrieved from the donor, through transplantation of liver in one liver failure patient, simultaneous kidney and pancreas in another recipient, and another kidney in the third recipient, enabled fresh lease of life to three more patients battling for survival and ending their ordeal of frequent hospitalization here in PGIMER.
The condition of the patients who underwent transplants is stated to be stable and under observation.
