From Classroom to Operating Room: A Teacher's Ultimate Gift
For Roopa Arora, a senior Hindi teacher working in Sector 38-B of Chandigarh, the profound act of "giving" transcends her educational duties. Fifteen years ago, she made an extraordinary medical sacrifice, donating 65% of her own liver to save her husband's life. Today, she leverages that powerful survival narrative to spearhead a comprehensive crusade promoting organ donation awareness throughout North India.
A Life-Saving Decision in 2011
The couple's remarkable journey commenced when Arora's husband, Parveen Kumar Rattan, an official with the Chandigarh Administration's engineering department, received a diagnosis of cryptogenic liver disease. As his condition deteriorated rapidly, a liver transplant emerged as the sole viable treatment option. Arora, then a mother to an eight-year-old daughter, did not waver in her decision to become a living donor.
During an intense and grueling 16-hour surgical procedure, medical teams successfully transplanted the right lobe of Arora's liver into her husband. "I just had to save his life," Arora recalls, reflecting on that critical moment. "I had full faith in science and in God." This leap of faith marked the beginning of their shared second chance.
Building an Extraordinary Life Post-Transplant
The success of the 2011 transplant was merely the foundation for a series of inspiring milestones that many transplant recipients fear are unattainable. Defying expectations, the couple welcomed a son in 2014, just three years after the major surgery. Arora describes this as a miracle that offers immense hope to other transplant patients concerned about long-term health and fertility prospects.
Their physical recovery was further demonstrated on the world stage in 2019 when Arora and Rattan represented India at the prestigious World Transplant Games held in the United Kingdom. There, they competed in cycling and athletics events, showcasing their regained strength and vitality to a global audience.
Transforming Personal Experience into Public Mission
Armed with a master's degree in social work and counselling alongside her teaching credentials, Arora now dedicates her spare time to advocacy. The couple actively visits schools and hospitals, offering hours of free counselling to families paralyzed by the fear and uncertainty surrounding living organ donation.
Their direct, empathetic counselling helps families navigate the complex emotional and psychological hurdles associated with donation decisions over several days of supportive meetings. To broaden their reach and destigmatize the procedure, they have featured on Doordarshan Jalandhar and contribute articles to various health magazines.
Additionally, they deliver health awareness lectures in government schools and colleges. "People often ask if life can return to normal after a transplant," Arora states. "Our story shows that it can. If our experience helps even one family make the decision to save a life, it is worth it." Their transition from transplant patients to public advocates powerfully proves that life after major surgery is not only possible but can be truly extraordinary.
