Surat, June 1 – Surat, already known for its thriving textile and diamond industries, is steadily establishing itself as a leading city in the field of organ donation. In a recent heart-wrenching incident, the family of Kusumben Bharatbhai Patel from Dinod village in Mangrol Taluka chose to donate her organs after she was declared brain dead, providing a new lease of life to four individuals.
Nilesh Mandalewala, the founder of Donate Life, shared the details of the case. On May 20, 2025, Kusumben’s son Pavan Bharatbhai Patel was married. Just two days later, on May 22, the family embarked on a pilgrimage to Ajmer with the newlywed couple. Tragically, on the morning of May 23, their car met with an accident near the Rithabhadev Kalaji temple in Udaipur. Pavan and Kusumben’s daughter Nayanaben lost their lives on the spot, while Kusumben suffered critical head injuries and was admitted to RNT Medical College, Udaipur.
Despite the immense grief, the family made a courageous and compassionate decision to donate Kusumben’s organs after doctors declared her brain dead. The organ donation process was carried out with the support of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) and Donate Life.
Kusumben’s kidneys and liver were allocated to Kiran Hospital in Surat. One kidney was transplanted into a 32-year-old male patient, and the other into a 33-year-old female patient. Her liver was successfully transplanted into a 68-year-old man from Mumbai. Additionally, Kusumben’s eyes were donated for corneal transplantation to a patient in Surat.
The transplant surgeries at Kiran Hospital were performed by a team of doctors including Dr. Kalpesh Gohil, Dr. Mukesh Ahir, Dr. Pramod Patel, Dr. Dharmesh Dhanani, Dr. Ruchir Jhaveri, Dr. Gaurav Gupta, and Dr. Sankit Shah.
Kusumben’s husband Bharatbhai, her brother Harshadbhai, and son-in-law Amol Rajput, along with other members of the Patel family, played a vital role in supporting this noble act. The entire process was guided by Nilesh Mandalewala and involved the active participation of medical professionals and volunteers.
Donate Life paid heartfelt tribute to Kusumben Bharatbhai Patel and expressed deep gratitude to her family for their extraordinary act of humanity. Their selfless decision has brought hope and healing to multiple families, exemplifying Surat’s growing legacy as a compassionate organ donor city.
