Bengaluru: Death can sometimes bring in a new beginning, not just an end. Rekha Rao, a single mother from Manjunatha Nagar in Rajajinagar was heartbroken when she lost her only son, Rakesh Kumar S, to an accident. However, in a remarkable display of compassion, she opted to donate the 33-year-old’s organs, offering a second chance at life to seven patients who were waiting for transplants.
The organs donated include liver, kidneys, corneas, heart valves, and skin. Rakesh’s skin will be used in the treatment of burn victims and patients requiring skin grafts at the skin bank in Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru.
Rakesh, who worked as an engineer, suffered critical injuries to his head and face due to an accident on March 14. By the time he was brought to the hospital, his brain was showing very minimum function, said Dr B Ravi Mohan Rao, senior consultant, neurosurgery at Apollo Hospital, Sheshadripuram. “We look at various parameters including hand and leg movement, breathing and size of the pupils. The patient was comatose, with his pupils dilated and fixed, showing that there was not much of brain function. He wasn’t breathing well.”
Rakesh was immediately put on a ventilator. Further medical investigations revealed that a very large clot was pressing on his brain. “It is called as acute subdural haematoma. He was in a very poor state and brain function was not evident,” added Dr Rao.
As surgeries would not have improved the condition of the patient, the family was counselled. They took a second opinion, came to terms with the condition of the patient and agreed to donate his organs. “It brings me peace to know that even though he’s gone, part of him will live on and help others,” said Rekha.
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) reports that more than 4,000 patients in Bengaluru are currently awaiting organ transplants.