MANIPAL: Breaking the widely held misconception that organ donation is only meant for the young, the family of a 76-year-old homemaker from coastal Karnataka has set an extraordinary example by donating her organs following her tragic demise at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.

The donor, Jenny D’Souza (76), a resident of the quiet coastal town of Gangolli, was rushed to the hospital after a sudden spell of giddiness that rapidly progressed to unconsciousness due to a massive brain haemorrhage. Despite the best clinical interventions by the medical team, she failed to recover and was certified brain dead in accordance with established medical and neurological protocols.

In their hour of intense grief, the resilient family looked beyond their personal loss and enquired if her organs could still save lives. Proving that age is no barrier to compassion, Jenny became an eligible organ and tissue donor at 76. Her liver will offer a fresh lease of life to a patient suffering from end-stage liver failure, her corneas will restore sight to the visually impaired, and her skin will help heal victims recovering from severe burn injuries. The entire retrieval and allocation process was meticulously executed in coordination with Jeevasarthakathe, Karnataka’s State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation.

Lauding the family’s noble gesture, Dr. Sudhakar Kantipudi, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MAHE Teaching Hospitals, stated, “We often associate organ donation with younger individuals. This family, despite their loved one being 76, has taught us otherwise. Age is never a barrier to compassion or to saving lives.” The hospital management placed on record its profound gratitude to the grieving family for their immense courage, and thanked the transplant coordinators and treating doctors for facilitating this final act of generosity.

GangolliNews