Organ donation is one of the most powerful legacies a person can leave behind. It is a selfless act that can save multiple lives, restore vision, and offer a second chance to those in desperate need. Yet, despite the life-saving potential, India continues to face a dire shortage of organ donors. This story of a retired teacher reminds us just how transformative this final gesture can be.
On the morning of June 29, 2025, a retired 69-year-old teacher fell unconscious in the washroom while getting ready for a yoga session. The family immediately rushed her to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed a massive intracerebral bleed. She was resuscitated and placed on a ventilator. Despite expert management in the intensive care unit, her condition did not stabilise, and she was eventually declared brain dead on the late evening of July 2, 2025.
Despite the moment of intense grief, her son, along with the family, took the courageous decision to donate her organs. Following the son’s consent, the liver, both the kidneys and corneas were donated, giving the gift of life to multiple recipients.
The patient’s liver was transplanted in a 33-year-old female at the hospital. One kidney was transplanted in a 51-year-old male in the same hospital, while the other kidney was allotted to another hospital in Delhi, where it was transplanted into a 34-year-old male patient. Both her corneas were sent to an eye bank to restore sight and change lives.
Dr Anurag Saxena, Cluster Head Delhi NCR, Department of Neurosurgery, HCMCT Manipal Hospital Dwarka, said, “The family’s courage and strength during such a difficult time are truly inspiring. The patient came with a massive brain haemorrhage due to a ruptured brain aneurysm, and knowing the inevitable outcome, her family decided to continue with non-surgical management. Despite our best efforts, the patient couldn’t regain her life and was declared brain dead on 2nd July 2025. In her final moments, this teacher taught us the ultimate lesson of compassion and generosity.”
Dr Shrikanth Srinivasan, Chairman, said, “Organ donation is a vital part of end-of-life care, offering new hope to people and providing an opportunity to save multiple lives. Each act of organ donation is a reminder that even in our final moments, we can give others the gift of tomorrow. In a moment of deep personal loss, the family showed immense courage by choosing to donate her or which helped save the life of five others.”
India continues to face a wide gap between the number of patients awaiting transplants and the organs available. As per national data, approximately 1.8 lakh people suffer from kidney failure each year, yet only 13,426 kidney transplants were performed in 2023. Similarly, out of the 25,000–30,000 liver transplants needed annually, only 4,491 were conducted last year. In the case of corneas, about 25,000 transplants are performed annually against a requirement of 1 lakh.
The urgent need for organ donation highlights India’s growing transplant gap and the importance of this noble gesture. With thousands of people waiting for life-saving organs, increasing public awareness and participation is important. Every donor has the power to change lives, making organ donation a vital step toward a more hopeful, healthier future for many.
