In a heart-wrenching yet inspiring event, a 21-month-old toddler from Odisha’s Balasore, Pratyush Panigrahi, has become the youngest cadaver donor in the state, saving two lives through organ donation. This remarkable act of generosity by his grieving parents marks a significant milestone in Odisha’s medical history. Pratyush Panigrahi was born in July 2022 at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar. From a young age, he experienced recurrent health issues, leading to multiple hospital visits where he often recovered after receiving treatment. However, approximately two weeks ago, Pratyush was admitted to the hospital again and diagnosed with meningitis, a severe infection that affects the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Despite intensive care in the hospital’s ICU, Pratyush suffered a septic shock and was declared brain dead on a Saturday. In an extraordinary act of compassion amidst their grief, his parents, Gouri Shankar Panigrahi and Sharmistha Panigrahi, who are both city-based artists, made the courageous decision to donate their son’s organs to save the lives of other patients in dire need of transplants. Prof. (Dr) Debasmita Rath from the hospital’s Paediatrics department highlighted the child’s medical journey and the eventual tragic outcome. Following the parents’ decision to donate, SUM Hospital coordinated with the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), which in turn contacted the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) to facilitate the donation process.
The toddler’s kidneys were allocated to a local hospital for a patient in need of a transplant. Meanwhile, his liver was flown to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi, where another baby awaited a liver transplant. A team from AIIMS-Bhubaneswar performed the liver retrieval surgery, and local police arranged a green corridor to ensure swift transport of the organ to Biju Patnaik International Airport for its journey to New Delhi. Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak, Joint Director of SOTTO, explained the meticulous process of contacting wait-listed patients and matching the donated organs. Although three organs were considered for retrieval – liver, heart, and kidneys – only the liver and kidneys matched with recipients. Unfortunately, the heart could not be used due to compatibility issues.
Rachita Sarangi, Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, stated that this event marks the first instance in Odisha where the organs of such a young donor were harvested to save other lives. This historic event underscores the critical importance and life-saving potential of organ donation, even from the youngest of donors. Sharmistha Panigrahi, Pratyush’s mother, expressed her profound sorrow but also found solace in knowing that her son’s organs would give another child a chance to live. Her words resonate with the deep emotional and altruistic spirit behind organ donation, providing hope and life to those in need even amidst personal tragedy. This act of immense courage and generosity by Pratyush’s parents not only highlights the importance of organ donation but also sets a precedent for others, illustrating how in the face of unbearable loss, one can still offer the gift of life to others.
In a heart-wrenching yet inspiring event, a 21-month-old toddler from Odisha’s Balasore, Pratyush Panigrahi, has become the youngest cadaver donor in the state, saving two lives through organ donation. This remarkable act of generosity by his grieving parents marks a significant milestone in Odisha’s medical history. Pratyush Panigrahi was born in July 2022 at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar. From a young age, he experienced recurrent health issues, leading to multiple hospital visits where he often recovered after receiving treatment. However, approximately two weeks ago, Pratyush was admitted to the hospital again and diagnosed with meningitis, a severe infection that affects the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Despite intensive care in the hospital’s ICU, Pratyush suffered a septic shock and was declared brain dead on a Saturday. In an extraordinary act of compassion amidst their grief, his parents, Gouri Shankar Panigrahi and Sharmistha Panigrahi, who are both city-based artists, made the courageous decision to donate their son’s organs to save the lives of other patients in dire need of transplants. Prof. (Dr) Debasmita Rath from the hospital’s Paediatrics department highlighted the child’s medical journey and the eventual tragic outcome. Following the parents’ decision to donate, SUM Hospital coordinated with the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), which in turn contacted the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) to facilitate the donation process.
The toddler’s kidneys were allocated to a local hospital for a patient in need of a transplant. Meanwhile, his liver was flown to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi, where another baby awaited a liver transplant. A team from AIIMS-Bhubaneswar performed the liver retrieval surgery, and local police arranged a green corridor to ensure swift transport of the organ to Biju Patnaik International Airport for its journey to New Delhi. Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak, Joint Director of SOTTO, explained the meticulous process of contacting wait-listed patients and matching the donated organs. Although three organs were considered for retrieval – liver, heart, and kidneys – only the liver and kidneys matched with recipients. Unfortunately, the heart could not be used due to compatibility issues.
Rachita Sarangi, Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, stated that this event marks the first instance in Odisha where the organs of such a young donor were harvested to save other lives. This historic event underscores the critical importance and life-saving potential of organ donation, even from the youngest of donors. Sharmistha Panigrahi, Pratyush’s mother, expressed her profound sorrow but also found solace in knowing that her son’s organs would give another child a chance to live. Her words resonate with the deep emotional and altruistic spirit behind organ donation, providing hope and life to those in need even amidst personal tragedy. This act of immense courage and generosity by Pratyush’s parents not only highlights the importance of organ donation but also sets a precedent for others, illustrating how in the face of unbearable loss, one can still offer the gift of life to others.
