A 42-year-old Mumbaikar got a new lease of life after he underwent a heart transplant surgery in the Fortis Hospital
at Mulund in neighbouring Mumbai on Thursday.

This was possible when the wife of a 30-year-old male from Pune consented to donate her husband’s organs after he was declared brain dead at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune. The heart transplant surgery was successfully performed by a team, led by Dr Anvay Mulay, head of Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, marking Fortis Hospital’s 68th heart transplant since August 2015, an official release stated here this evening. The Chembur resident, who was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy way back in 2006, was being medically managed and was waitlisted since September 2017.

While, the young donor was rushed to the Pune hospital after collapsing at his residence from hypertensive intracranial bleed. After being counselled by the medical social workers at the hospital, his grieving wife consented to donate his heart, liver and kidneys, thereby saving and enriching lives of four patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. The donor heart was transferred out of Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune at 0218 hours and reached Fortis Hospital, Mulund at 0406 hrs, before being transplanted in the recipient.

Speaking about the surgery, surgeon Dr Mulay said, "A single donation makes a huge difference, it helps us enhance the lives of those in need. This, however, is only possible because of the brave decisions taken by the donor families. Organ donation momentum certainly seems to be building up in 2018, at this rate, we hope to inch closer to bridging the donor-recipient gap." Talking about the cause of organ donation, Dr S Narayani, zonal director, Fortis Hospital, said, "With more families coming forward and lending their support, it makes our crusade towards the cause even stronger."