‘Not all heroes wear capes:’ Saluting unsung warriors on Indian Organ Donation Day

One person can save at least eight lives by donating organs. The proposition was proven right in the case of Saisamridhhi, who helped save the life of one person if not eight.

Saisamridhhi’s mother Dr Sunita Pradhan’s eyes welled up remembering her daughter. “I could not do anything before she lost her life. But with the donation of her organs, I felt she has become immortal,” said Pradhan while wiping tears from her eyes.

Sunita Pradhan and her husband Sapan Kumar Bindhani lost their 15-year-old daughter Saisamridhhi in May last year. However, the only compensation they have now is in the form of her kidney which has managed to save another person’s life. Whenever Sunita misses her daughter she speaks with that person with her kidney to get some kind of relief.

On the occasion of Indian Organ Donation Day, a private hospital in Bhubaneswar felicitated the parents of Saisamridhhi who in turn requested all to pledge to donate their organs so that others can get another lease of life.

A 31-year-old youth in Bhubaneswar, Somanath Swain has pledged to donate his organs on the occasion. He along with 20 more people registered to donate all of their organs at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

“I am proud to have donated my organs. These organs which are keeping me alive now will keep others alive even after my death,” said Swain while speaking to OTV.

Organ donation promotes a noble, humane spirit in society. It means that one is desirous of extending one's spirit of service to others even after one's death.

However, despite many encouragements from the government, the donation rate is too low in our Country and State. Experts pointed out that an estimated one million people suffer from end-stage organ failure but only about 3,500 transplants are performed in the country annually.

As far as Odisha is concerned, five to six people require organ transplants every day in the State. But the donors are rare. Sources said at least 80 patients are currently on the waiting list of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTA) to receive organs.

“We are trying to arrange organs for the patients as we have 13 hospitals in Odisha registered with us,” said SOTTA’s Joint Director, Dr Bibhutibhusan Nayak.

Dr Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar said, “Donor shortage in Odisha is actually due to lack of awareness. Usually, people get busy conducting the rituals after the death of their kin, but they forget an important thing that they can give another person a gift of life at that time. People need to prepare for that much before.”

Experts say that the organs from one donor can help as many as 35 people. Most organ and tissue donations occur after the donor has died. But some organs and tissues can be donated while the donor is alive, without the slightest harm to the donor. People of all ages and backgrounds can be organ donors.