A 17-year-old girl from Kerala has become the youngest organ donor in the country after she donated a part of her liver to her father. The Class XII student has been identified as Devananda, daughter of Pratheesh, who is suffering from chronic liver disease.
The brave girl had earlier approached the Kerala High Court seeking an exemption as the law does not allow minors to donate organs in India. After getting court’s nod, the girl donated a portion of her liver to save her 48-year-old father.
The liver transplant was conducted successfully at Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva, Kerala. Impressed with the girl’s efforts to save her father, the hospital reportedly waived off all the surgery expenses.
However, it wasn’t an easy journey for Devananda to undergo the donation process. The brave girl had to change her diet and join a local gym with regular exercises to ensure her liver was in the best condition before the donation.
Moreover, she had to spend more than a week in the hospital. Now, a discharged Devananda, feels ‘proud, happy and relieved.’
According to sources, Devananda’s father Pratheesh runs a café in Thrissur. However, his life turned upside down after he was diagnosed with the chronic liver disease. His situation worsened after they failed to find a suitable donor.
With no other options left, Devananda decided to donate a portion of her liver to her family. However, after finding out that minors weren’t allowed to donate organs, she knocked the doors of the Kerala High Court as the court had earlier allowed a minor for organ donation.
The court praised the brave girl and wished her the best before giving a nod.