The transformative power of organ donation: A gift of life & legacy

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Organ donation, a profound act of altruism, has the potential to save lives, offer hope, and create a lasting legacy.

The recent incident involving a 66-yearold farmer underscores the significance of organ donation in fostering a healthier society.

A farmer who was in an accident near Sunnghatta industrial area, Dodaballapur tragically passed away on February 04.

However, in an act of generosity, his family chose to donate his organs, providing a lifeline to individuals in critical situations.

The impact of their decision

His liver and Kidneys were transplanted, offering a second chance at life to a patient from Bengaluru zone Hospitals and his corneas were donated to Narayana Nethralaya, bringing vision to two deserving recipients and his skin was transferred to Victoria Hospital,

Honouring the farmer's memory

Similarly, Kannada Superstar Puneeth Rajkumar's commitment to organ donation echoed his father's legacy.

By pledging his eyes for donation, Puneeth brought sight to four individuals, inspiring a surge in eye donation registrations across Karnataka.

Dr Prakash Doraiswamy, Sr. Consultant - Anaesthesia & Critical Care Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru states that the importance of organ donation cannot be overstated.

He said, “A decade ago, the organ donation rate was minimal, but today, there has been a remarkable increase, providing hope for thousands awaiting lifesaving transplants. In India, approximately 200,000 patients develop kidney disease annually, contributing to a substantial social and economic burden.”

He issues that organ donation has the potential to alleviate this burden significantly, as the estimated number of potential organ donors in India is around 1,50,000.

Each organ donor has the potential to be a superhero, impacting up to eight lives and enhancing the quality of life for countless others through tissue donation.

Despite this progress, the demand for organs still exceeds the supply, making it crucial for individuals to understand the profound impact of organ donation and choose to contribute.

By opting for organ donation, individuals can leave a lasting legacy, contribute to a healthier society, and drive medical advancements that save lives.

Let us collectively continue this momentum, bridging the gap between the urgent need for organs and their availability.

Through organ donation, we can collectively create a future where no life is lost simply because an organ wasn't there—a future built on the transformative power of the gift of life.