'He will always be with us': Parents of 21-month-old brain dead baby donate his organs in Odisha

"He was just 21 months old and yet he used to offer food to others before consuming the same," recalled the mother of Pratyush Panigrahi whose organs have been donated to save two precious lives.

Pratyush's parents decided on organ donation after he was declared brain dead by the doctors in Bhubaneswar. However, the couple tried their best to provide the best treatment to their baby who also fought with the adversities strongly till the end.

The liver and heart of the baby will be harvested in two other children undergoing treatment at MGM Hospital in Chennai and ILBS in Delhi. It is for first time in Odisha that the organs of such a small baby had been harvested to help save lives elsewhere, sources said.

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Gaurishankar Panigrahy, Pratyush's father said, "My son was undergoing treatment for a long time. We have spent around Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh to save him. We decided to donate organs so as to provide new life to others."

Gaurishankar's wife Sharmistha said, "He is with us and will always be with us. He used to call us mama and papa and used to play with medical staff here. He used to offer food to others first before eating it. He stayed with us with short period and made us proud."

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