Chennai: Saveetha Hospital facilitated its first organ donation, making it also the first case in Thandalam, Sirperumbudur. The donor was Ramesh (42), a hardware shop employee.
At a press conference here Thursday, the mood turned sombre as the hospital director Dr Saveetha Rajesh and Saveetha Group of Institutions Chancellor Dr N M Veeraiyan appreciated the family for taking the decision.
Even as the press meet began late by an hour, Balaji, brother of Ramesh apologised as his family are still in shock and sadness and found it difficult to attend the conference. Ramesh’s wife Chitra wept inconsolably.
“We know that Ramesh is alive through other people (beneficiaries of organs). Our only wish is that they should not have any bad habits as my brother did not have any. He was a kind and helpful man, that’s why we thought he would also prefer to help people through his death,” Balaji said.
One of his relative said, Ramesh was riding on a two-wheeler at Kanchipuram. He was returning home after a function when a four-wheeler hit his vehicle from behind throwing him to the road.
Dr Arun, Head of Department of Intensive Care, said, “Ramesh was involved in a road traffic accident on 10 March with severe traumatic brain injury. He was also in deep coma and transferred to the ICU. Even as he was on maximum medication, the pressure in his brain increased. On 20 March, he was declared brain dead and we approached his family.”
Saveetha Hospitals, a year go began taking small steps on creating awareness on organ donation through Goal-Gift of life foundation.
Associate dean Dr Damodaran said, “In the past year, we had three such cases and only Ramesh’s family agreed to harvest the organs. There is lack of awareness and families get emotional when we speak about organ donation. They also cite religious reasons.”
Dr Veeraiyan congratulated eight people benefited from Ramesh. When the family agreed for the organ donation, we informed the government officials and concerned departments, he said.
It may be noted that road traffic accidents contribute to as many as 1.50 lakh people die in India every year, killing many others as well.