Turning grief into life: Two families in Bengaluru choose organ donation after tragedy

Two selfless acts of organ donation in Bengaluru save lives, honouring the legacies of Sandhya and Manjunath.

The city recently witnessed two acts of selflessness, as the organs of individuals who tragically lost their lives were donated to save others.

The first instance involved 25-year-old Sandhya, whose family chose to honour her commitment to serving others through organ donation after she succumbed to a life-threatening brain injury. The young doctor from Devanahalli had a bright future ahead. On December 6, her life took a tragic turn when she was involved in a road accident while riding a two-wheeler with her father. She struck a road divider, suffering a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Rushed to Manipal Hospitals on Old Airport Road, she underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a large clot caused by the accident. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, her condition worsened, and she was declared brain-dead on December 9.

Inspired by her dedication to society, Sandhya’s family donated her organs. Her lungs, kidneys, liver, corneas, heart valves, skin, and tissues were donated, potentially saving or improving many lives. Reflecting on their decision, her family members said, “Sandhya wanted to dedicate her life to society, serving the downtrodden and improving access to healthcare in rural areas. Even in her passing, she has saved countless lives.”

The second instance involved 48-year-old Manjunath V., a blind man who became an organ donor following a tragic road accident. On December 15, he and three of his visually impaired companions were crossing Mysore Road near Kadamba Hotel in Kumbalgod when they were hit by a six-wheeler lorry. While two of his companions escaped with minor injuries and another suffered a broken shoulder, Manjunath sustained severe head trauma.

He was taken to Gleneagles BGS Hospital, where doctors fought to save him. Despite their efforts, he was declared brain-dead on December 16. At this critical moment, his family made the decision to donate his organs. His kidneys, liver, heart valves, and corneas were successfully retrieved and allocated to recipients through the Jeevasarthakathe organ donation network.