Chandigarh, 1 December: A 44-year-old man from Haryana who suffered fatal brain trauma became an organ donor at PGIMER last week, saving three critically ill patients and restoring eyesight to two others, officials said.
The patient sustained a severe head injury in a fall on November 23 and could not be revived despite aggressive treatment. He was declared brain dead on November 27 in line with THOA protocols. His wife gave consent for organ donation, calling it an extension of his nature. “He always wanted to help others,” she said. “Letting him save lives felt like the right way to honour him.”
PGIMER then initiated its Organ Retrieval and Allocation System. The liver was sent to the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS), where a suitable recipient was identified, allowing the institute to conduct its first cadaver liver transplant. Two kidneys were transplanted at PGIMER, and the donor’s corneas restored sight to two visually impaired individuals.
PGIMER director Dr. Vivek Lal praised the family’s choice, calling it “an extraordinary message of humanity.” He said their decision “strengthened the organ donation movement in the region.”
PILBS director Dr. Virendra Singh said the institute was grateful for the support. “PGIMER’s guidance made this milestone possible,” he said.
