Donor Family of Poonam Rani from Fazilka turns Their Gravest Tragedy into Blessing For Six
With Lungs transplanted to a matching recipient in Chennai & Liver, Kidneys and Corneas transplanted here at PGIMER
Chandigarh: March 26. “As life ends for one person, it is just beginning for someone else. That is the bittersweet reality of organ donation. It is an extremely hard decision amid immense grief for the donor family, but families like that of donor Poonam Rani definitely instil a sense of confidence and a ray of hope. It is through their generous gifts that hundreds of people each year are given a second chance at life,”
This was stated by Prof. Surjit Singh, Director PGIMER while detailing about the latest organ donation case, 5th of this month, here at PGIMER, that gave a second lease of life to four terminally ill organ failure patients with the transplantation of lungs to a matching recipient admitted in MGN Healthcare Chennai and liver and kidneys transplanted here in PGIMER. The retrieved corneas restored the sight of two more corneal blind patients. In all, the Donor Family of Poonam Rani turned their gravest tragedy into a blessing for six patients.
Further complimenting the efforts by the PGIMER team despite the time crunch, Director, PGIMER stated, “The commitment of the entire team of PGIMER involved in the process right from brain death certification committee, transplant coordinators, treating doctors and especially intensivists who maintain the body in the best condition for optimum usage of organs and transplant surgeons who save precious lives with their skill and synergy, is extremely praiseworthy.”
Gentle-natured and soft-spoken Poonam Rani, 32 years old from village Ganjuwala, District Fazilka, Punjab was admitted to Civil Hospital, for an elective surgery. But her condition became serious post-surgery and she was shifted to then Adesh Hospital, Bathinda. However, seeing no improvement, the family admitted her to PGIMER on 20th March. Being diagnosed with Hypoxic ischaemic Injury, Poonam Rani’s condition became irretrievable. Assessing this, PGIMER’s internal committee, after meeting twice, found the parameters matching brain death, and eventually, Poonam Rani was declared brain dead on 22nd March.
“My son has lost his mother at an age when he needed her the most. Hope my decision for organ donation helps some children turn lucky and save their parents. This will be our biggest tribute to her.”.” said Pradeep Kumar, the aggrieved husband of Poonam Rani. as he consented for organ donation of his deceased wife.
“Donating Poonam Rani’s organs was an extension of her persona as she had always gone out of his way to show kindness and compassion to others. Even in her death, she has done the same. It was as if she was guiding us to go ahead with this hard decision.” stated Harmesh, the heartbroken but gritty father of Poonam Rani.
With the deceased’s husband consenting to the proposal of Organ Donation, the concerned departments started reaching out to the matching recipients to honour the family’s magnanimous decision. Having no matching liver recipient at PGIMER for lungs, NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation) was contacted immediately to explore options with other transplant hospitals for matching recipients.
Finally, the lungs were allocated by NOTTO for a matching recipient admitted in MGM Healthcare Chennai and were sent from PGIMER at 2.45 pm through a green corridor for International Airport from where it was airlifted by a flight at 3.25 pm for its destination in Chennai and it reached Chennai at 08:30 PM on 23rd March.
The cross-match of several potential recipients led to the identification of matching recipients for liver and two kidneys and the transplants of all the three organs were accomplished by the early hours of 24th March. The harvested corneas were also transplanted to two corneal blind patients here in PGIMER.
Detailing about the case, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER & Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER stated, “At times, it takes a few days to ascertain the normal functioning of the transplanted organs and gauge the stability of the recipients.”
“Focussed efforts at increasing awareness and engagement about this altruistic cause are indicating positive outcomes with the consistently increasing trend at organ donation in PGIMER. The way the public and media are supporting the cause is very appreciable indeed, added Prof. Koushal PGIMER.
