Surat — The 58th heart donation through the Donate Life organization was successfully completed, where 37-year-old Hardik Bharatbhai Khudkhudiya gave six people a new lease on life after being declared brain dead. The family's decision not only saved several patients but also presented an inspiring example of humanity to society.
Hardik, originally from Limbdi in Surendranagar district and currently residing in the Althan area of Surat, suffered a severe head injury in an accident involving a BRTS bus near Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple while returning home from Pandesara on March 25. He was immediately taken to New Civil Hospital by an ambulance and later admitted to Maitreya Multi Super Specialty Hospital for further treatment.
A CT scan revealed that he had a brain hemorrhage and a blood clot in the brain. Neurosurgeons Dr. Jenil Gurnani and Dr. Mehul Modi performed a craniotomy to remove the blood clot. On March 31, Dr. Jenil Gurnani, physician Dr. Priyank Shah, intensivist Dr. Mit Nayak, and medical administrator and CEO Dr. Pranav Thakar declared Hardik brain dead.
Dr. Priyank Shah contacted Nilesh Mandalewala, the founder of Donate Life, to inform him about Hardik's brain death. The Donate Life team arrived at the hospital and explained the importance of organ donation and the entire process to Hardik's wife Priya, father Bharatbhai, mother Aashaben, brother Mayankbhai, brother-in-law Kalpeshbhai, Vaibhavbhai, sister-in-law Vatsalbhai, father-in-law Nileshbhai, uncle Ketanbhai, cousin Pareshbhai, and other family members.
Priya and Bharatbhai expressed their wish for all of Hardik's organs to be donated to give new life to patients suffering from organ failure, as his organs would otherwise turn to ashes. Hardik's family includes his wife Priya, aged 30, a housewife; daughter Tivisha, aged 7, who is in second grade at Nanduba English Academy; and son Saransh, aged 2. His father Bharatbhai, aged 70, is retired, while his mother Aashaben, aged 67, runs a beauty parlor.
After receiving approval for organ donation from the family, SOTTO was contacted. SOTTO will handle the heart and liver donation to Kiran Hospital in Surat, and both kidneys will be transplanted after receiving the HLA report.
The donated heart was transplanted into a 30-year-old man in Mumbai by Dr. Nandkishor Kapadia, Dr. Vishal Agarwal, Dr. Vikesh Revdiwala, and their team, while the liver transplant was performed on a 50-year-old man in Nashik by Dr. Dharmesh Dhanani, Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Dr. Ruchit Zaveri, and their team at Kiran Hospital in Surat. After the donation of both kidneys by SOTTO, they will be transplanted into two needy patients. The donation of eyes was accepted by Dr. Praful Shiroya from Lok Drishti Eye Bank. Notably, the first heart transplant was conducted at Kiran Hospital.
This marks the 58th heart donation through Donate Life. Surat has established a significant presence in the field of organ donation at both national and international levels. Hearts, lungs, hands, and small intestines donated from Surat have already been transplanted in various cities across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Indore, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Additionally, Surat has made its mark internationally in the field of organ donation.
Hearts, lungs, and small intestines transplanted in hospitals in Mumbai and Chennai have been donated to citizens from Ukraine, UAE, Russia, Bangladesh, and Sudan. Known as the textile and diamond city, Surat is now gaining recognition as an organ donor city in the country.
The Donate Life organization pays tribute to the family of the late Hardik Bharatbhai Khudkhudiya, who generously donated his precious organs in this great humanitarian effort. We express our gratitude to his family for their service.
Through Donate Life, a total of 1381 organs and tissues have been donated, establishing Surat's national and international identity in organ donation. The entire process of organ donation in Surat was successfully completed under the guidance of Nilesh Mandalewala, founder and president of Donate Life. Family members of the late Hardik, including wife Priya, father Bharatbhai, mother Aashaben, and brother Mayankbhai, played a crucial role in this humanitarian initiative.
The medical team and hospital staff also contributed significantly to this process. Neurosurgeon Dr. Jenil Gurnani, physician Dr. Priyank Shah, intensivist Dr. Mit Nayak, CEO Dr. Pranav Thakar, RMO Dr. Bhavin Patel, Dr. Hemali Shah, registrar Dr. Nancy Patel, nursing staff, and Maitreya Hospital administration, along with program officials and other associates from Donate Life, ensured that the entire process was carried out smoothly.
A total of 1381 organs and tissues have been donated through Donate Life so far, including 554 kidneys, 242 livers, 58 hearts, 56 lungs, 9 pancreases, 11 hands, 1 small intestine, and 450 eyes. This significant contribution has provided new life and vision to a total of 1273 individuals both domestically and internationally. The city of Surat is rapidly becoming a leader in the field of organ donation, and this initiative is strengthening awareness and the spirit of humanity in society.
