Margao: Every week, three times without fail, 28-year-old Tushar Chikodi makes the now-familiar journey to a hospital for dialysis. Both his kidneys have failed. For four years, this gruelling routine has been his life.
Watching this unfold has been his close friend, Sanket Arsekar. What began as a feeling of helplessness has now led to action. On June 18, his birthday, Arsekar, a youth leader from Sanvordem, is organising a mega organ donation camp at Tisk-Sanvordem. He hopes more people will pledge their organs so that others, like Tushar, can get a chance to live.
A Friend's Determination
“For four years, I have watched my friend Tushar fight just to stay alive,” said Arsekar. “That is when I realised that each one of us carries within us the power to save lives we may never even know about. After we are gone, our bodies will return to ash, but our eyes can help someone see the world, our kidneys can spare someone the suffering Tushar endures every day, our liver can give a dying person another chance. Nearly 2.5 lakh transplants are needed in this country every year, and most never happen simply because donors aren’t coming forward. On my birthday, I only ask that you join me in making one pledge, to donate your organs. It is perhaps the most generous thing any of us can ever do.”
Hope for Tushar and Others
For Tushar, the camp spells hope. “For four years, I have been suffering. I would not wish this on anyone. If my plight can move even a few people to pledge their organs, then perhaps it will not have been entirely in vain. Somewhere out there, someone is waiting — and they are running out of time,” said Chikodi.
The camp will offer information on organ donation procedures and legal guidelines, and facilitate donor registrations on the spot. Its message is simple and direct: I chose to be an organ donor. You can too.
