New Delhi: For one, who toiled day in and day out to make a living for family of five, to even think of offering gifts was an unimaginable luxury. But 37 year old poor vegetable vendor gave the greatest and most expensive gift of his lifetime. He epitomized how one can be immortal even in his death. His supreme gift left an indelible imprint in Sir Ganga Ram hospital.
The poignant story relates to a Haryanvi (of Bavani Khera) Sushil Kumar, living in Delhi with a family of 5, who met a fatal accident on the road in Inderpuri. It was a heart rending sight to watch in Sir Ganga Ram hospital as inconsolable family came to know that their sole breadwinner had reached a point of no return. It was then that Akanksha Shekhavat , medical counselor and transplant coordinator, took over to give meaning to Sushil’s life even in his death. Mrs Shekhwat persuades the families of brain deads to donate organs for giving dying patients new lease of life. It took two days of consistent persuasion by Mrs Shekhawat to make Sushil’s family to relent and ready for offering the ultimate gift. Late Sushil leaves behind his mentally challenged father, mother, wife and two children. Sir Ganga Ram harvested 5 precious organs from him to give new lease of life to 6
Sushil’s heart went for transplant to Mahatma Gandhi hospital, Jaiput to save the life of a patient on deathbed. His liver and one kidney came in handy for two patients in Sir Ganga Ram hospital itself and one kidney went to Fortis Delhi to save a patient’s life. Corneas of his eyes are yet be assigned to any recipient.
Talking to Medicare News, Mrs Shekhavat says, ‘To convince the poor family, which had entered in a long and dark tunnel of untold misery, for donation of organs proved pretty difficult and tortuous. I had to summon all my resources of persuasion to make them see light of making their deceased immortal even in his death. In the beginning, they insisted for lama (leave against medical advice). But finally, great opportunity to make Sushil live even after death, dawned on them when I narrated to the family stories of previous donations, including that of 22 year old young boy just a few days ago. The story of Sir Ganga Ram’s scion late respected Tejram’s organ donation proves a great inspiration every time I embark on convincing the family of deceased for the supreme act. The then chairman of Sir Ganga Ram Society,Tej Ram’s story of offering supreme gift serves as a beacon for patients waiting for organs ’
It is to be remembered here that great philanthropist Sir Ganga Ram’s grandson Tej Ram’s liver and kidneys saved life of three patients looking at certain death. Tej Ram died of brain hemorrhage in 2012 when he was 88. While living Taj Ram ji had expressed his desire to donate his organs after his death. The family of the owner of Ganga Ram lost no time in fulfilling his wish. Mrs Akanksha said, ‘one only hopes that such stories serve as an inspiration for people to opt for cadaver donation
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