Divyanshi, the two-and-a-half-year-old daughter of Mr. Raj Thapa, fell from the balcony of their third-floor house in Delhi. Following the fall, the child suffered a severe head injury and was declared brain dead. After the unfortunate event, the parents of the girl child made the brave and selfless decision to donate their dear daughter’s organs. The girl’s heart, kidneys, and cornea were retrieved by a multidisciplinary team from AIIMS and cardiothoracic surgeons from Chennai. Hence, the girl saved the lives of two toddlers.

The heart of the girl was donated to an eight-month-old baby with congenital heart disease in Chennai. The Organ Retrieval and Banking Organization (AIIMS) established a green corridor for the safe and timely transport of the harvested organs from Delhi to MGM Healthcare in Chennai. While the retrieved kidneys were transplanted to another child, the corneas were kept at AIIMS.

Dr. Deepak Gupta, a neurosurgery department professor, stated that Divyanshi was the youngest child to donate a heart at the AIIMS trauma center. He further explained the importance of the campaign started in AIIMS last year, ‘Safe Balcony-Safe Child', to emphasize the need for safety precautions to be taken in households. However, the unfortunate events continue to occur, he added.

Mr. Raj Thapa, in his interview following the incident, said to the press that such unfortunate events should never happen to anyone else. He further added that he had recognized the importance of safer balconies and declared that efforts should be taken to promote the campaign initiated by AIIMS to create widespread awareness among the public.

Further, it was brought to light that three organ donations of the same kind were carried out at AIIMS in the 72 hours around Divyanshi’s incident. Shashi, a 48-year-old woman who was also declared brain dead on November 16, a day before Divyanshi’s death, was also an organ donor. Her kidneys were retrieved and transplanted to two people: one in AIIMS Delhi and one in RR Hospital.

The head of the trauma center stated that the number of people willingly donating their organs has recently increased, and almost 16 organ donors who lost their lives last year have provided a new lease of life to almost 80 people. Also, Divyanshi’s was the twelfth organ donation procedure carried out at AIIMS this year. Dr. Aarti Viji, the professor in charge of the ORBO department, extended her warm appreciation for the selfless decision of the kid’s family.

(Input from various media sources)

(Rehash/Bharkhavy K V)