23-year-old lecturer's organs harvested at Mangaluru hospital

Mangaluru: Many patients received a fresh lease of life close on the heels of parents giving their consent to harvest organs of their 23-year-old daughter who was declared brain dead by experts in Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH) and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Karnataka.

The lungs of lecturer Gloria Asha Rodrigues was transplanted at BGS global hospitals in Chennai, the heart was transplanted to a patient at Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru, the liver was harvested at Aster hospital in Bengaluru and sent to A J Hospital in Mangaluru.

The kidneys and her corneas were donated to KMC in Manipal. With the help of Dr Singhal Ashish Shivendra and Dr Aravind Lakshmana Rao from the plastic surgery department, her skin was preserved by the Father Muller Rotary Skin bank.

On November 8 at around 1.30 pm Gloria, daughter of Gration Alex Rodrigues and Gretta Flavia Rodrigues from Bajpe, collapsed in the college premises and was Father Muller Medical College hospital. Gloria had recently completed her MCom at St Aloysius college and began teaching in the same college since July this year.

Despite many effort, her condition remained critical. After a battery of tests, the final diagnosis of brain death was confirmed. Gloria’s family was then counseled by FMMCH’s team, including administrator Fr Jeevan George Sequeira, assistant administrator Fr Donald Nilesh Crasta, and medical superintendent Dr Udayakumar. SOTTO Karnataka organ transplant coordinator explained the process of organ donation.

Gloria's family took the noble decision to donate organs and help organ recipients lead a normal life. A coordinated effort led by Dr Vijay Sundar Singh, intensivist, Dr Kishan Shetty, head of the anaesthesiology department, and surgical teams enabled the harvesting of Gloria’s organs in the Oncology OT complex at FMMCH.

Before the procedure, an emotional "honor walk" was held, with staff and family escorting Gloria from Asha Kiran entrance to OT complex as a mark of respect.

The transport of the organs to the airport was coordinated in-house by FMMC Administrator Fr Ajith B Menezes, FMCI Director Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho to ensure the organs reached the airport in quick time.