Pune labourer overcomes grief, gives new life to others

A daily wage labourer, Sagar Gaikwad, donated the eyes and kidneys of his brain-dead brother, Vishal (21), and transformed his moment of sorrow into happiness for four beneficiaries.

The resident of Koregaon Bhivar village in Daund taluka, near Pune, did the noble act a fortnight ago. What makes the Gaikwad family’s donation dearer is the fact that they had no clue until then that kidneys could be donated after death.

They did not even understand the meaning of brain death until approached by medical social workers at Ruby Hall Clinic. Vishal, who had a small motor machine repair shop in his village, about 76 km from Pune city, was returning to Shirdi with a friend on his motorbike when the duo met with an accident.

While the friend survived, Vishal suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to Ruby Hall Clinic on October 1 by his family. After prolonged treatment, a team at the hospital declared him brain dead.

“We couldn’t face the fact as he was on ventilator and I could see him breathing. So, when they told me that he has lapsed into a vegetative state, I didn’t understand.

“After many hours of convincing, I understood that my brother would never get up again. That’s when I agreed with the social worker to donate his organs,” said Sagar.

Surekha Joshi, a transplant coordinator at Ruby Hall Clinic said, “After he took the decision, I asked him to tell his mother, but he refused. He took his mother to see the patient and sent her home, stating that he would tell her after the operation. He signed the consent form and was very brave in facing the situation.”

In the second week of October (date withheld on request from hospital), a team of senior surgeons conducted the organ retrieval and two kidneys and two corneas were harvested. While the corneas were given to the eye bank, to be donated to waitlisted patients, the two kidneys were transplanted in 41-year-old and 31-year-old patients. Both are reported to be doing well, said hospital officials.

Meanwhile, Vishal’s family is yet to come to terms with the loss, but feels comforted by the donation. “My widowed mother brought us up and we were a close-knit family. Now, I feel deserted. But giving new life to four people gives us immense satisfaction. My brother’s good deed follows even after death,” said Sagar.