Lucknow: In an extraordinary and moving coincidence, today’s successful multi-organ donation at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) served as a living testament to the message shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 131st episode of Mann Ki Baat. As the Prime Minister emphasized the vital importance of organ donation to the nation, the medical teams at SGPGIMS were busy transforming a family’s profound grief into a beacon of hope for others.
This milestone reinforces a powerful truth: while a soul may depart, donated organs can grant a renewed lease of life to those on the brink of despair.
The Story of a Hero: Sandeep Kumar
The donor, Sandeep Kumar, a 42-year-old Lucknow resident, met with a critical road accident on February 7, 2026. After battling for his life across multiple facilities, he was admitted to the Apex Trauma Centre at SGPGIMS on February 21. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he was declared brain stem dead on February 22 by a panel of four expert physicians.
In a moment of unimaginable sorrow, his wife, Laxmi, displayed immense courage by consenting to organ donation. Her decision has directly saved five lives and restored sight to others, ensuring that her husband’s legacy lives on through his son and the recipients he never met.
A Symphony of Surgical Excellence
The complex retrieval and transplantation process required seamless coordination between several departments and institutions:
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Liver: Through a collaborative effort between SGPGIMS and King George’s Medical University (KGMU), the liver was retrieved and transplanted into a recipient on KGMU’s waiting list.
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Kidneys: The retrieval was led by the Urology team including Dr. M. S. Ansari, Dr. Sanjoy Sureka, and Dr. Sanchit Rustagi, while the Department of Nephrology, led by Dr. Narayan Prasad, managed the successful transplantation.
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Corneas: Harvesting and transplantation were completed under the expertise of Dr. Apjit Kaur, Head of Ophthalmology.
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Critical Care & Coordination: Meticulous donor maintenance was overseen by Dr. Devendra Gupta (Anaesthesia) and Dr. Suruchi Ambasta (Apex Trauma Centre), while the SOTTO-UP team and Transplant Coordinator Mr. Harish Chopra worked tirelessly from Saturday night through Sunday to ensure logistical success.
An Institutional Milestone
Under the leadership of Director Dr. R.K. Dhiman, this marks the first multi-organ donation following brain stem death at SGPGIMS in nearly two decades. To honor such noble acts, the institute upholds a policy where the entire cost of treatment is waived from the moment a family provides consent for organ donation.
The Final Salute: A Guard of Honour
As a mark of profound respect, a solemn Guard of Honour was accorded to Mr. Sandeep Kumar. The ceremony was attended by the institute’s highest leadership, including Director Dr. R. K. Dhiman, CMS Dr. Devendra Gupta, SOTTO-UP Joint Director Dr. Rajesh Harshvardhan, and Apex Trauma Centre Chief Dr. Arun Srivastava.
This successful procedure stands as a call to action for all citizens. In alignment with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, we are reminded that organ donation is the ultimate gift—a noble cause that turns an ending into a new beginning.
