Bhubaneswar: In a remarkable display of compassion and generosity, the authorities of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar honored an auto-driver from Keonjhar, Dukhabandhu Mahanta, and his wife Banita for their selfless act of donating the organs of their brain-dead 14-year-old daughter.
This poignant moment marked a significant milestone for AIIMS-Bhubaneswar as its surgeons successfully performed the institution’s first Deceased Donor Organ Retrieval, underscoring the hospital’s commitment to advancing medical care and saving lives.
The surgeons at the esteemed central health institute retrieved the liver of the brain-dead girl on Friday and facilitated its transfer to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi for transplantation into an unknown recipient. The young girl, identified as Damayanti Mahanta, was a Class IX student who had been undergoing dialysis for several months due to kidney failure. Her condition took a critical turn when she suffered a brain stroke, leading to her admission to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar from Capital Hospital.
Despite intensive treatment, Damayanti showed no signs of improvement, and a team of doctors ultimately declared her brain dead.
First Deceased Donor Organ Retrieval @AIIMSBhubaneswr.
14 years old girl child declared brain stem dead, donates Liver to save the unknown.
Liver transported through green corridor to ILBS, New Delhi
@mansukhmandviya @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/dmtIY9milR— AIIMS Bhubaneswar (@AIIMSBhubaneswr) February 23, 2024
In a deeply emotional and compassionate decision, her parents, after counseling, chose to donate her organs, thereby giving hope and a new lease of life to an unknown individual in need. With their consent, AIIMS experts successfully retrieved Damayanti’s liver and facilitated its transportation to ILBS in New Delhi.
To ensure the swift and safe transfer of the organ, a special green corridor was arranged by the Commissionerate Police, allowing for its expedited journey from the city Airport to its destination in New Delhi.
The liver will now undergo transplantation surgery on a patient at ILBS, offering them a chance for recovery and renewed health.
This act of generosity and kindness echoes the spirit of humanity and underscores the critical importance of organ donation in saving lives. It also aligns with the vision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who recently announced that the last rites of organ donors will be conducted with full state honor, recognizing their noble contribution to society.
The selfless gesture of Dukhabandhu Mahanta, Banita, and their late daughter Damayanti serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us of the immense power of compassion and the transformative impact of organ donation on individuals and communities alike.
