Chennai: “Today is my son’s birthday. I was sure that he would receive many accolades. Never did I dream of this day where he is awarded for his death – for donating his organs,” said Deva Kumari, mother of Sudharshan, who died in a road accident this July. She was among the 12 families honoured by the SIMS hospital on Thursday for signing up for donating their family members’ organs.
Trying to overlook their mental agony, family members of the donors participated in the event, only to set an example to others, who hesitate to donate organs due to the deep-rooted cultural and social taboo.
Survived by a wife and two children, 35-year-old Sudharshan, an online editor for a Tamil magazine, was killed in a road mishap on July 16 on Villupuram – Vulundurapettai highway. Having counselled by the hospital authorities, the family accepted to donate Sudharshan’s organs, after his brain was dead.
Fighting back tears, Deva Kumari pleaded, “The fact that he is alive in some form is a great pacifier to us. But we would be very glad if we could see the recipient who got his eyes.” Family members of all the donors shared the common request, to be able to see the recipient at least once.
Koyambedu resident, Tamil Selvan who lost his wife Saraswathi this October was inconsolable and remained quiet. A teacher at the city middle school, Saraswathi’s ideologies of humanity and kindness gave strength to the husband to donate – Kidneys, liver, Eyes, Heart valves among others – as she suffered brain death, after meeting with an accident at Arumbakkam. “s,” said Tamil Selvan, even while giving out a message to the general public to opt for organ donation.
“It is human tendency to get emotionally attached to the recipient which would create chaos in a long run. The rule is important for both the good of the donor and the recipient,” said a senior doctor from the hospital.
