This year, Manipal Hospitals celebrated Mother’s Day in a novel manner – India’s second-largest healthcare chain shared a few remarkable stories of children who donated their organs to save the lives of their mothers. At an event, 4 mothers (kidney + liver recipients) shared their journey of emotions and torment experienced during their illness, and how their children (donors) changed their lives forever. The event was inaugurated by renowned Kannada actress Amrutha Iyenger, accompanied by her mother S Bhargavi K S.

Amrutha Iyengar, a renowned Kannada actress, said, “I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to spend time with the most courageous individuals I have ever met in my life. Mothers are known for their selfless nature, often sacrificing their own comfort and happiness to ensure the welfare of their children. But today, I feel overwhelmed on meeting these children who donated their organs to save their mothers’ lives.

Mr. Karthik Rajagopal, COO, Manipal Hospitals, “This is a testament to the deep and unconditioned love to their mother. It requires lots of courage and profound understanding of the risks involved. Without considering their health, they have put their mothers ahead.”

At the event, five mothers who suffered from end-stage renal and liver disease, expressed their gratitude to their children who donated their organs because they prioritized their mothers’ lives over their own. There are many myths regarding organ donation around the world, including in India, regarding the health of the donor and the recipient which had to be debunked. Hence, Manipal Hospitals invited these organ recipients (mothers) and donors (children) to the event. They were Sushila Javanth (60), who received a kidney from her son Ravi Kumar (32), Kakoli Biswas (51), who received a portion of the liver from her son Raya Biswas (21), Nusrath (47), who received a kidney from her son Ayan Kaleem (20), and Danalakshmi (41), who received a portion of the liver from her son Tharun Kumar (22).

One of the heart-touching cases highlighted during the event was of Ms Nusrath, a 47-year-old woman residing in Bangalore, who began experiencing kidney-related issues in January 2020. After a thorough round of tests to understand her health condition, she found that her creatinine level was above normal and was recommended consultation with a Nephrologist. She met Dr. Deepak Kumar Chitralli, Senior Consultant – Nephrologist and Transplant Physician, who asked her to either undergo dialysis or a transplant as she was suffering from end-stage renal disease. Her entire family was devastated on learning of her health condition. Her son Ayan Kaleem (20), who was 18 at that time, without second thought, stepped up to donate one of his kidneys to his mother. He did all the required research before approaching the doctor and his mother to convince her.

After the doctor assured her of the safety of herself and her child, Ms Nusrath agreed to the surgery, which was done on 14^th September 2022. She is currently on the road to full recovery.

The event closed with Manipal Hospital felicitating all these mothers and children for sharing their stories of true acts of love and kindness.