Brain-dead Navsari woman writes new chapter in five lives

SURAT: Kalpnaben Patel always wished to see people smile, says her son. While leaving this world, the 55-year-old, who was declared brain-dead on Thursday, ensured that her organs give a new lease of life to five and bring smiles to many faces.
The Patel family, hailing from Gandevi of Navsari district, decided to donate Kalpnaben’s organs after doctors declared her brain dead.The process was initiated late last night and organ harvesting of her two kidneys, a liver and two corneas was done on Friday morning.
“My mother was a religious person and she never shied away from helping others. She always wanted everyone to be happy and smiling. By donating her organs, we will bring smiles to the faces of the members of the five families whose loved ones would get a new lease of life. It’s a perfect tribute to my mother,” Pratik, Kalpnaben’s son, said.
Incidentally, as many as 19 organs have been donated in the last 12 days in Surat with the families of three brain-dead patients coming forward to support the noble cause.
As per her family, Kalpnaben complained of high blood pressure and suffered from paralysis on June 3. She was rushed to a local hospital in Gandevi town. After primary treatment, she was referred to a private hospital in Surat where she was diagnosed with brain haemorrhage. Kalpnaben underwent a brain surgery but her condition didn’t improve.
On Thursday, doctors declared her brain-dead and informed Donate Life founder Nilesh Mandlewala about her. “As soon as we received the message, we reached the hospital and met her family members including her sons — Pratik and Vivek — and explained the importance of organ donations. They agreed for organ donation as they wanted to help others,” Mandlewala told TOI.
After receiving the consent for cadaver donation, Mandlewala informed State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) convener Dr Pranjal Modi in Ahmedabad. The two kidneys and a liver were allotted to Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) for transplantation. Two corneas were donated to Surat-based Lok Drishti Eye bank.
Kalpnaben is survived by her husband Thakorbhai, two sons Pratik and Vivek and two daughters Hetal and Jinal. Vivek works as a safety officer in Hajira-based company while Pratik is employed as engineer in state-run ONGC in Ankleshwar.