Surat: Divyang dad puts kidney on sale to aide son's studies

A handicapped or 'divyang' father's dedication to ensuring son's reaches his full potential has taken a heart-wrenching turn.

Jayesh Patel, a resident of the Adivasi area of Vaansda Taluka near Surat in Gujarat in is ready to sell his internal organs to fulfil his academically-gifted son's dream to become a doctor.

Jayesh Patel, a resident of Upsal Village, graduated from school in the year 1995 and started looking for a job, but fate had different plans for him. He met with an accident and lost his eyesight before he could secure a job that ensure financial stability for him and his family.

Jayesh's wife became the sole breadwinner, and the family's survival was strained for many years.

They strived to ensure their only son, Sahil did not lack an education and enrolled him in a nearby school.

This turned out to be their biggest investment. The teenager secured 90.59 percentile in his 10th board exam.

With help of his teachers and well-wishers the boy overcame financial difficulties to enrol in a new school where he could pursue higher studies in the Science stream. His dream is to become a doctor, and his father is willing to sell his kidney to help him realise it.

"I always knew my son is a bright child," Patel said. "He scored really well in the Class 10 board exam. He wants to become a doctor but I am not able to assist him financially. Since I lost my eyes 10 years ago, my wife has been taking care of the house. I have no other option now but to sell my kidney to see my son reaching the heights."

Studies by international bodies tracking illegal sale and trade of organs show that most people in developing countries sell their kidneys — the easiest organ to trade since the human body can survive on one kidney — in order to get out of debt, but eventually fall back into the debt cycle due the health complications that follow.

Mostly women opt for this gruesome solution and debt commonly pertains to marriage, medical costs, legal fees and education of children. Almost all those who enter this trade as donors have no bank accounts or fixed incomes.

A FATHER’S APPEAL

• Jayesh Patel resides in the Adivasi area of Vaansda Taluka near Surat. He lost his eyesight due to an accident 10 years ago
   
• Their son Sahil secured 90.59 percentile in 10th std board exams and his teachers helped him enrol in a new school to pursue higher studies in Science stream

― Zee Media Newsroom