Parents of seven-day-old infant donate his organs for medical research

(Image for representational purposes only)

New Delhi: In a country embedded in religious and karmic beliefs, cadaveric organ donation has had a slow, but firm emergence.

Cadaveric organ donation has been actively campaigned for to raise awareness with the simple message that you can save a life even in death.

Now, in what can only be called a brave and noble gesture, the parents of a seven-day-old infant, donated his organs for medical research. The baby died of a heart attack at a city hospital.

The baby of the couple, Suraj and Aanchal Gupta, was born on March 1 at Max Patparganj. However, their joy was short-lived as a few hours after being born, they were informed that there was some problem in the arteries of the child who later suffered a mild-heart attack.

"The family then shifted the child to AIIMS. On the seventh day the baby underwent an open heart surgery which continued for six hours.

"The doctors at AIIMS tried their best but the child could not survive," said a statement issued by Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti, a Delhi-based NGO.

The family donated his organs despite opposition from some family members. They offered the body to anatomy department of AIIMS for the purpose of medical education with the help of Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti.

"My grandson is no more. But donating his organs could serve the cause of medical sciences...His brief visit to this planet would be successful," said the grandfather of the infant.

"This gift is more precious as this body will teach our student some of the complex issues of human anatomy as this child of seven days suffered from peculiar cardiac situation," said Balram Airan, officiating Director of AIIMS.

"Arvind's family has showed an extreme courage and fortitude at the time of utter distress and then people of Delhi shall ever be thankful for this the ultimate sacrifice. This donation shall inspire big number of people and enhance the cause of strong and healthy India," said Ram Niwas Goyal, Speaker of the Delhi Assembly.

(With PTI inputs)