Awareness on organ donation yet to grow, feel recipients

Chennai: Umar Farooque (16) was suffering from a condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy Elemy Dysfunction and had reached a critical stage, requiring heart transplantation.

Having waited for 45 days after being listed on  Tamil Nadu Organ Sharing Registry, he received a heart and has since seen much better days. Had the family of the deceased not been willing to donate the organs, Umar and his family may not have been so positive as they are today.

Reena Raju, who had end stage heart failure for four years, realised the lack of cadaver transplants only when she was in need. She moved to Chennai from her Bengaluru home for transplantation at Frontline Lifeline Hospital and Dr K.M. Cherian Heart Foundation. She now organises marathons and cyclothons and sings to create awareness, with her donor heart.  

Many may know of the importance of donating organs, however, not many pledge to donate their organs until they experience a situation first hand. Despite facilities being provided and awareness being created on the same, very few go out of their way to pledge their organs.  

Surya, a 19-year-old youth, who died in a road accident on January 31, had volunteered to donate his eyes during a college campaign. When he was declared brain dead, his mother did not hesitate to donate his organs as she was aware of his willingness to donate.

“Though he is not with us, we can still feel his presence. Last month, Stanley Hospital distributed ‘organ donor’ certificates for Surya (which was collected by his mother) and other organ donors who have saved the lives of many terminally-ill patients,” said Ashoke, a relative of Surya.

“It is very important to educate the public about organ donation. However, over the years, we have recognised that there is a greater need to educate doctors and hospitals about the same,” said Sunil Shroff, founder, Mohan Foundation, adding, “Chennai, in comparison to the rest of the country, is much ahead in terms of awareness.”