PGIMER witnesses another case of exemplary courage, of resolute spirit on the 2nd day consecutively in this week as following the footsteps of brave heart donor family from Punjab a day before, another valiant family from district Jind, Haryana consented to donate the organs of their dear one, Parveen Singh Malik, 25, amid their own grim tragedy and kindled hope in four patients with the transplantation of kidneys and corneas here at PGIMER Chandigarh.
Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, while paying rich tributes to the donor Parveen Singh Malik, said, “For any family, this is a heart-wrenching loss. But families like that of deceased Parveen Singh Malik who have the heart to make an offer in the most tragic moments of their life definitely instill a sense of confidence and provide a ray of hope to the ever-increasing wait-listed recipients. I also commend the efforts of the entire PGIMER team involved in the process for translating the donor family’s noble wish into ‘reality’ by actually saving precious lives.”
Like any other usual day, Malik, popularly called Gathwala Jat Chaudhary Parveen Singh Malik, was going for work on his bike on 10th June when he was brutally hit by an unknown speeding vehicle from behind, leaving him unconscious due to the impact of head injuries. Without losing any time, the family immediately rushed critically injured Parveen first to GMSH, Sector 16 and then to GMCH, Sector 32. On being referred from GMCH, Sector 32, he was admitted in PGIMER on the same day itself. However, nothing helped, neither the fervent prayers of the family and friends nor the best of the medical care and his grueling struggle between life and death came to an end on Wednesday when he was declared brain dead by the certification committee at PGIMER after following the protocols of THOA.
“It was quite a tough call to say 'yes' to organ donation. But then we thought if someone had come to us at that moment and said there was an organ that could save our son Parveen, we would have jumped at the chance. So we thought of saving someone else the pain and agony of losing their child and went ahead with the decision. It’s comforting to know that someone got a chance to live because of my dear son.” shared the grief stricken but father Kuldeep Malik.
Ravinder Malik, uncle of Parveen Singh Malik, who stood by the bereaved father in this hour of grief, said, “Destiny has played havoc with us. Though it was an extremely tough call, still we always believed that it was the right thing to do. Nobody can understand more than us what it means to lose a son so we definitely did not want anyone else to have to go through this excruciating pain.”
After the family consented for organ donation, all the departments concerned swiftly got into action---the intensive care unit maintained the donor, the labs did the cross-matching, Nephrology department worked up the matching recipients, the transplant teams retrieved the pancreas and kidneys from the donor Parveen and transplanted to two terminally ill renal failure patients. In addition, the corneas of the donor were also harvested, which on transplantation, restored the eyesight of two corneal blind patients.
H.S.Kohli, Head, Deptt. of Nephrology, PGIMER stated, “Pre transplant work up team of department of Nephrology swung into action and as per host of criteria, contacted prospective recipients to narrow down on these two who got second lease of life. Both of them have been suffering from “end-stage debilitating kidney ailment” and dependent on kidney dialysis for long. Their chances of survival without transplant were bleak.”
Detailing about the procedure Ashish Sharma, Head, Deptt. of Renal Transplant Surgery, said, “The team has been in operation theatre round the clock in view of four transplants done back to back in two days including one liver and kidney combined and one pancreas and kidney combined surgeries. But it is extremely gratifying that all the surgeries have been successful and all the patients are recovering well.”
Sharing about how deceased organ donation programme is being taken forward in PGIMER, Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER shared his concerns, as he said, "In view of the rapidly increasing burden of life style diseases and organ failure incidence over the years, we really need to improve the rate of organ donation. Synergised efforts and engagement of the civil society, religious leaders and other stakeholders are required for creating more public awareness about the cause, which will help saving precious lives."
