This story is from September 22, 2021

Covid, MM survivor’s lungs give life to Kolkata patient

Covid, MM survivor’s lungs give life to Kolkata patient
Manish Shah (inset) from Surat was declared brain-dead on Sept 19
Surat: In a first such cadaver organ donation by a Covid-19 and Mucormycosis recovered patient, organs harvested from 53-year-old textile embroidery unit owner gives life to six.
Manish Shah was hospitalised due to Covid-19 in June 2020. Later, 16 teeth along with his jaw had to be removed after he was infected by black fungus in November. Shah lungs have been transplanted into a 46-year-old patient in Kolkata whose lungs were heavily damaged by coronavirus.
It is also the first interstate lung transplant from Gujarat to eastern part of the country.
“My husband won the battle against Covid and had recovered from MM too. We knew the painful condition of Covid patients and hence, we agreed to donate the lungs,” said Mona, wife of deceased Shah.
On September 16, Shah complained of pain in his hand and head. He was shifted to the hospital for examination and after his condition did not improve, doctors at the United Green Hospital performed angioplasty and placed a stent in his heart. However, within an hour he lost consciousness and doctors diagnosed brain haemorrhage. A surgery was performed to remove a blood clot in his brain, but on September 19 they declared him brain dead.
Soon, alerted by the doctors, Nilesh Mandlewala of Donate Life convinced the family to donate his organs. “The family was very kind and agreed to donate the organs. It is the first case of organ donation by Covid-19 patient. All the organs were examined by nodal agencies and were in good condition,” said Mandlewala.
Both lungs were transported around 1,625 km away to Kolkata by air in 190 minutes and transplanted in a patient who was on ECMO support for over 103 days. “Manish fought a long battle with Covid and MM. Even in death he gave life to six people,” said Jatin Shah, a cousin of the deceased and senior Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA).
One kidney was donated to 44-year-old resident of Vadodara and another to a 29-year-old resident of Ahmedabad, while the liver was donated to 21-year-old Vadodara resident.
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About the Author
Yagnesh Bharat Mehta

Yagnesh Mehta is principal correspondent at The Times of India, Surat and reports on crime, politics and health related issues. He has reported on major events that affected Surat in recent years, like the floods in 2006 and bird flu outbreak in Navapur in 2005. He has also covered child labour issues in industries of Surat and on RTI. Painting and rock-climbing are his favourite leisure activities.

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