Even in death, he served: Retired Army soldier saves 4 lives through organ donation

The team included Col Priya Ranjan, gastrointestinal surgeon, Col Bharat, urologist, Lt Col Sumanlata, transplant OT matron, Maj Sonam Pandey and Maj P Raifunissa (coordinators), Lt Col Vivek Kumar, anaesthesiologist and Maj Sanskrita, ophthalmologist.

The family of a 61-year-old retired Indian Army soldier, who was declared brain-dead after sustaining critical injuries in a road accident in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, consented to donate his organs, rising above their grief to save multiple lives.

Through their decision, the family helped save four lives, including that of a 31-year-old mother of two and a serving soldier. The organs — his kidney, liver and corneas — were harvested at Command Hospital, Lucknow, on January 4. The liver was successfully transplanted at Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi, while one kidney and the corneas were transplanted at Command Hospital, Lucknow.

The family of the soldier, who had retired from the Army’s medical services, was counselled on organ donation by a transplant coordinator as part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness and encourage organ donation pledges.

The transplant process was led by Major General Alok Bhalla, Commandant of Command Hospital, Lucknow. Maj Gen Bhalla has previously served as head and professor of surgery at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, and has extensive experience serving in forward areas in the Northeast.

This marked the second organ transplant case at Command Hospital, Lucknow, in the past three months since Maj Gen Bhalla assumed charge.

The medical team comprised Colonel Priya Ranjan, gastrointestinal surgeon; Col Bharat, urologist; Lieutenant Col Sumanlata, transplant OT matron; Major Sonam Pandey and Maj P Raifunissa, transplant coordinators; Lt Col Vivek Kumar, anaesthesiologist; and Maj Sanskrita, ophthalmologist.

In August last year, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and his wife, Sunita Dwivedi, President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), pledged to donate their organs at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral). General Dwivedi described organ donation as a service to humanity and urged service personnel and their families to set an example for society.

Their pledge provided a significant boost to the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA), which continues to promote awareness and inspire the armed forces community to lead the nation in organ donation. Families who have donated organs have also been felicitated on various occasions for their compassion and courage.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, under the leadership of Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, AORTA has emerged as a national leader in organ retrieval and transplantation. The statement added that the Indian Army has set a record, with over 26,000 personnel pledging to donate organs in a single campaign.