In a deeply moving gesture, a tourist who tragically passed away during her visit to the city has given the gift of life to six people in need.

Upon her demise, her organs were donated to six individuals facing critical health challenges. In the midst of their own grief, the family of the foreign tourist came forward with the generous decision to donate her organs to bring hope and new life to individuals in need of a transplant.

Her liver and left kidney were successfully transplanted to patients at SS SPARSH Hospital, RR Nagar, while the other kidney was sent to INU Hospital. Additionally, her heart valves were sent to Narayana Hrudayalaya, corneas to Narayana Nethralaya, and skin to Victoria Skin Bank

This gesture stands as a reminder of the urgent need for organ donations in India. An estimated 5 lakh Indians die each year waiting for organ transplants. A report by NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization) suggests that only 1500 of the 30,000 patients requiring liver transplants annually benefit from this life saving procedure. Similarly,  the discrepancy is considerably worse for heart and lung  transplants. The deceased organ donation rate in India at less than 1 percent per million population, is a major handicap, and translates to less than one person per million opting to donate their organs.

Commenting on the gesture, Joseph Pasangha, Group COO, SPARSH Hospital, said, “Organ donation has the power to change lives. A single decision to donate organs holds incredible potential to make a lasting impact on many. This week, we were honoured to be gifted the organs of a foreign tourist who unfortunately passed away on her India visit. These vital organs will help  save multiple lives. It is remarkable to see how selfless gestures like these transcend national boundaries or caste and creed. We salute the family for their magnanimity, especially at a time of great grief for themselves. This should only encourage all of us to do more and better in our endeavours to support Organ donation”

As per organ donation protocols, officials from SOTTO (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization), the government body which oversees cadaver organ donation in the State of Karnataka, initiated the process for organ donation and took written consent from family members.  The recipients were selected as per the waiting list and the organs were transplanted.