CHANDIGARH, 21.03.24-In the face of their darkest tragedy, the compassionate family from Saketri, District Panchkula, displayed unparalleled courage and generosity. Despite the heart-wrenching loss of 33-year-old Pawan, they chose to give the ultimate gift—the "gift of life" to three terminally ill patients and ‘gift of sight’ to two corneal blind patients. Their selfless act impacted five lives, providing hope and sight to those in need.

Expressing heartfelt gratitude, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director of PGIMER, remarked, "In the face of profound tragedy, the decision of Pawan’s family to consent to organ donation has transformed tragedy into triumph, giving hope and a second chance at life to those in desperate need. The legacy of the donor family's generosity resonates through the beating hearts and restored sight of those blessed with the gift of life and gift of sight.”

It was the fateful day of 14th March, when a pall of gloom descended on the family as Pawan became unconscious due to grievous head injuries after a sudden fall at his home. The family first rushed Pawan to a local private from where he was referred to PGIMER and was admitted here on the same day, 14th March, in an extremely critical condition.

Detailing about the the allocation of the retrieved organs, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER & Nodal Officer, ROTTO (North) stated, “ As the cross matching indicated no matching recipient for heart at PGIMER, we immediately got in touch with other transplant hospitals to explore options for matching recipients and finally heart was allocated to a 18 year old male patient admitted in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, with the intervention of NOTTO”

Prof. Vipin Koushal further elaborated, “To ensure safe and speedy transport of the harvested heart, Green Corridor was created in conjunction with the retrieval timings for International Airport, Mohali from where it was airlifted by 11 am bound flight on 20th March for its destination in New Delhi.”

Meanwhile, the matching recipient for heart was prepped and kept ready and the transplantation took place as soon as the heart arrived at its respective destination in New Delhi.

A 34 year male patient turned lucky to get Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant (SPK) and second kidney was transplanted to a 36 year old female, both patients admitted in PGIMER. Before the transplants, both the matching recipients were suffering from the last stage of debilitating kidney ailment and had been dependent on dialysis for long. The retrieved corneas, on transplantation, restored the sight of two corneal blind patients here at PGIMER.