Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Dec 14: A woman who lost her life in an accident has given new lease of life to six people.
Kasturi (36), a resident of Bennekudru, Barkur in Udupi district sustained serious injuries when the car she was travelling in met with an accident at Kota Mooru Kai on December 12.
She was rushed to KMC Manipal hospital but did not respond to the treatment. She succumbed to the head injuries on December 13. In a noble act, Kasturi’s family decided to donate her organs.
As per their wish, Kasturi’s heart valve, liver, kidneys and corneas were donated to patients awaiting organ transplants in different hospitals.
"We know the pain of losing a dear one, and by donating organs we can save other families from the pain we are going through," said Kasturi’s brother Prathap.
"Though we are heartbroken, we feel happy that our sister has given a new lease of life to others. We do not know who will receive her organs. We only seek their blessings for Kasturi’s children," he added.
Deputy medical superintendent Dr Avinash Shetty called Kasturi’s family Good Samaritans. "An expert team arrived from Bengaluru to Manipal to conduct the surgery. A person’s organs can save nine lives and Kasturi has saved six. The team took four hours to operate," he said.
Eyes can be preserved for 14 days but heart needs to be transplanted in a span of 24 hours. Kasturi’s heart and lungs could not be donated as there were no fixed recipients. Her heart valve was sent to Narayana Hrudayalaya Heart Hospital in Bengaluru by flight, liver to a recipient in AJ Hospital, and one kidney to a recipient in Father Muller Hospital. Her corneas and the other kidney have been preserved in KMC Manipal for recipients.
"Over 600 people are waiting for liver transplants and over 3,000 patients are waiting for kidney transplants in Karnataka. While people are becoming more aware about blood donation nowadays, importance of organ donation should also spread, Dr Avinash added.
After harvesting the organs, the Green Corridor was arranged by the Udupi district police department at 1.30 pm from Manipal to Mangaluru.
Avinash complimented the police department of Udupi and Kota for efficiently creating a green corridor to transfer organs.
Kasturi and her husband were travelling to Kota from Saligrama for a wedding. The car driver lost control while trying to avoid a two-wheeler approaching from the opposite direction. The car crashed into the divider and hit another vehicle.
Kasturi’s husband has sustained grave injuries and is being treated. He works abroad and had come home on vacation. The couple has two small children. Kasturi was a homemaker. She was one among four siblings.