A 14-year-old boy from Sudan, who had traveled to Delhi for medical treatment, received a second chance at life after a donor heart was flown from neighboring Haryana's Panchkula. The heart belonged to a 41-year-old woman who was declared brain dead, and her family consented to organ donation.
Donor's story
Sudeshna Singh, a teacher and wife of a serving Indian Army officer, was admitted to Command Hospital in Chandimandir following a severe brain hemorrhage. She remained in the intensive care unit for nearly 17 days before being declared brain dead. After doctors confirmed brain death, her family was counseled about organ donation. Initially hesitant, the woman's husband eventually agreed to donation after being convinced by his elder daughter, a Class XII student. A family friend noted that there is a limited window of about 24 to 72 hours in such cases.
Recipient's condition
For the boy, whose mother works in Egypt, the transplant was the only option. He had arrived in India about a month ago and was initially stabilized, but his condition worsened again. "He developed severe heart failure last week. A transplant was his only chance," said Dr. Mukesh Goel, senior consultant in cardiothoracic surgery at Apollo Hospitals.
Organ retrieval and transport
For the boy, a matching donor heart became available on May 2 after Singh was declared brain dead. With a narrow window of about four hours to retrieve and implant the heart, a specialized Apollo team flew to Chandigarh in a chartered aircraft, retrieved the organ, and returned to Delhi the same evening. A green corridor created by Delhi traffic police ensured the heart reached the hospital from the airport in about 20 minutes.
Successful surgery
"The heart was implanted and circulation restored within the critical time frame. The transplant was completed successfully by midnight," said Dr. Gaurav Kumar, senior consultant in pediatric cardiovascular surgery at Apollo Hospitals.
This successful transplant highlights the importance of organ donation and the coordinated efforts of medical teams and authorities in saving lives.
