CHANDIGARH, April 10 – A 21-year-old woman who died following a tragic road accident has saved four lives through organ donation after her death, in what doctors called a rare and urgent medical effort.
Jyoti Kumar, a resident of Mundi Kharar, suffered fatal head injuries after the auto-rickshaw she was riding in was hit from behind by a motorcycle on April 4. She was eventually admitted to PGIMER, Chandigarh, in critical condition on April 6 and succumbed to cardiac arrest two days later.
Despite their immense grief, Jyoti’s family agreed to donate her organs, enabling doctors to proceed under the Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) protocol, where organs must be retrieved within a narrow time window after the heart stops.
“Every second counts while retrieving organs after cardiac death,” said Dr. Deepesh Kenwar from the Department of Renal Transplant Surgery, PGIMER. “This was the 19th such donation at PGIMER and has benefited 30 patients so far.”
Jyoti’s kidneys were successfully transplanted into two patients with end-stage renal failure, and her corneas restored vision to two others.
“Caring for others was who she was. It feels right that her final act was one of generosity,” said her mother, Geeta. “Mai kanyadaan nahi kar payi, par mai angdan zaroor karungi,” she added, holding back tears.
“No words can convey our remorse. We have not only lost our daughter but the heart of our family,” said her father, Virender Kumar. “Yet, we take solace in knowing that even in her passing, she has helped four people live on.”
PGIMER Director Dr. Vivek Lal praised the family’s courage and compassion, saying, “Their decision reflects extraordinary selflessness in the face of profound loss.”
