The Hindu : Front Page : Bereaved parents donate boy’s organs

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Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
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Bereaved parents donate boy’s organs

Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI: A.P. Hithendran’s parents are grieving at the same time they feel a sense of fulfilment.

On Tuesday, S.Ashokan and Pushpanjali, took the bold decision of donating the organs of their brain-dead 16-year-old son.

Hithendran’s heart, kidneys, corneas, and liver were removed by doctors at Apollo Hospital, where he had been admitted, to be used on patients waiting their turn for a fresh lease of life. While the heart is already ticking inside a child at Dr.Cherian’s Frontier Lifeline Hospital, the corneas have gone to Sankara Nethralaya and the kidneys and liver were retained at Apollo.

Hithendran fell from his bike and sustained head injuries while trying to avoid an oncoming bus at Teachers’ Nagar, between Thirukazhkundram and Chengalpattu on Saturday evening. He was not wearing a helmet. Precious minutes lapsed as the boy, who could not be identified immediately by the locals, was brought home to his doctor parents more than 15 minutes after the accident.

“We were such a happy family,” Dr.Ashokan said heaving with sobs. “I thought my son would take care of me.” However, as both parents were doctors, well aware of organ donation, they decided to take a bold step. “We did not want to burn his body. We decided that his organs, at least, should help others. I do not want to know who gets Hithendran’s organs, but I hope they all survive and praise my son.”

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