Bengaluru: When most teenagers are undecided about their future, and almost everything else, a 19-year-old from the city made a significant decision of donating his liver to his father. A state-level basketball and badminton player, Koushik, and his father, Manjunath, an IPS officer, are both recovering after the transplant surgery.
Manjunath, 47, had a severe blockage in his liver after he was diagnosed with jaundice. There was also water accumulation in his abdomen, which had to be removed seven to eight times. Looking at his condition, doctors suggested a liver transplant.
Manjunath and his family searched everywhere but could not find any donors, and the doctors told them that the waiting period is at least three months after registration. But Koushik had already made up his mind and underwent tests necessary for the transplant without informing his family or friends. When he broke the news to his mother, she was taken aback. Concerned about his health, she suggested that he run away from home for a while.
But Koushik stood by his decision. “My father has done so much for me. He never said no to whatever I have asked for till now. If I am not there when he is in need then who else will,” said the second-year electronics and communication student at the Rajiv Gandhi Engineering College in the city.
Since he had holidays and no matches for the season, it was convenient for him to donate. The youngster, who also dreams of becoming an IPS officer like his father, was assured by doctors that his dream won’t be affected as the liver regenerates itself completely and starts functioning normally within a few months.
After a successful transplant surgery at Narayana Health City, both father and son are doing well. “It was a good experience. I did not have a single scratch or a stitch on my body till now. But I do now,” Koushik said with a smile.
On the World Organ Donation Day on Monday, Dr S.T. Gopal, Senior Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology, Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, said, “As an organ donor, one can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of 75 people with tissue and cornea donation. Yet, approximately five lakh people across the country die each year for lack of organs.”
Dr Anand Balasubramaniam, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru, said, “Miracles cannot cure the blind. On the threshold of the Independence Day, let us pledge that every Indian is aware of organ donation and we will together eliminate blindness of 1 million people, who are completely blind because of corneal blindness.”
