Latest news with #SOTTO
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Months after transplantation gives her a new hand, Muslim teen from Mumbai ties Rakhi to brother of Hindu donor in Gujarat's Valsad
Dressed in a pink salwar-suit set with lace detailing, 16-year-old Anamta Ahmed ties a rakhi around the wrist of Shivam Mistry. Her rakhi brother, Shivam, looks at her indulgently and the entire room breaks into applause. A few people have tears in their eyes. Someone plays the popular Raksha Bandhan number 'Behna ne bhai ki kalaai pe pyaar baandha hai…' and everyone present begins humming along. This is not merely a story of communal harmony, though. Until last year, one of the hands that Anamta is using to tie the rakhi belonged to Shivam's sibling Riya. The nine-year-old died in September 2024. With the help of a Surat-based NGO – the Mistrys are based in Valsad – one of Riya's hands was transplanted on Anamna, who lives 180 kilometres away in Goregaon, Mumbai. 'We touched the hands of Anamta and felt like it was Riya. She was the only girl child in our entire family. We felt like our daughter was still alive,' says an emotional Bobby Mistry, Shivam's father. Anamta was in Class 10 when, after coming in contact with a high-tension wire, her entire right arm had to be amputated by doctors in 2022. Even her left arm was working at 20% capacity. Two years later, on the afternoon of September 13, Class 4 student Riya fell sick in Valsad. She began vomiting and complained of an unbearable headache. After trying at several hospitals, her parents admitted her at Surat's Kiran Hospital on September 15. A CT scan showed that she was brain-dead due to a haemorrhage – a revelation that left Riya's family and entire staff shocked. Around this time, Donate Life NGO approached Riya's family and counselled them, following which they agreed to donate her organs. A registration was made on SOTTO (State Organ And Tissue Transplant Organization) and Riya's right hand, starting from the shoulder, was amputated and sent to Mumbai. It was transplanted on Anamta on September 17, making the teenager the youngest in the world to undergo the procedure at shoulder-level, says Nilesh Mandlewala, the president of Donate Life NGO. The kidneys and liver of Riya were also donated to different beneficiaries. Along with her parents, Anamta came down to Valsad, a day before Raksha Bandhan, on Friday. Mandlewala said, 'It was an auspicious occasion today as families of Akil Ahmed (Anamta's father) and Bobby Mistry met each other along with their friends and relatives.' Bobby says he had no idea about the Rakhi celebrations planned by the NGO on whose request, the Ahmed family came down to Valsad. 'It was a surprise for us. I was out at work when my wife Trishna called me and asked me to come home early. My son and I arrived home at the same time on Friday afternoon. I found my house crowded with relatives, friends, and Donate Life members. I saw Akil Ahmed with his wife and daughter, and Anamta was also present. Seeing them, I was shocked. They told me they had come down to Valsad to tie the rakhi to Shivam. This was a memorable moment for us,' he adds. Describing the fateful day of November 2022 when Anamta was injured, her father Akil says, 'Anamta had gone to our native place in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh to stay with our relatives. While playing on the terrace of a house, she accidentally touched a high-tension electric wire passing nearby. She became unconscious and was admitted to the hospital. We brought her back to Mumbai, and Dr Nilesh Satbhai of Global Hospital told us that her right hand had to be amputated. Her left hand, too, was only 20% functional. She was in Class 10 at the time and her Board exams were approaching. We got her right hand amputated from the shoulder. After a few months, her left hand was operated upon.' Describing Anamta's recovery process, Akil says, 'Anamta watched exercise videos on YouTube and started working on her left hand. After continuous exercise, we could sense recovery. She felt pain but did not give up. Simultaneously, she also started practising writing. She resumed school and confidently attended her classes. In her Class 10 Board exams in 2023, she scored 92%.' Meanwhile, Akil got her name registered with Maharashtra SOTTO. 'On September 16, 2024, Dr Satbhai called and informed me about the donor – Riya. The operation was performed in Mumbai. Now, Anamta is more confident and uses both her hands properly. We thanked Bobby Mistry and his wife Trishna profusely,' says Akil. Anamta is now a Class 12 student at Mithibai College in Mumbai. In her free time, she makes social media content encouraging people to face adversities head-on. She has featured in several podcasts and is also a TEDx speaker.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab bags emerging state in organ donation, transplantation award
Chandigarh: Punjab was recognised as an 'Emerging State in Organ Donation and Transplantation' during an event to mark 15th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) in New Delhi. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), under the Union ministry of health and family welfare, organised the award ceremony attended by Union health and family welfare minister J P Nadda. The award was received by director of medical education and research (DRME), Punjab, Dr Avnish Kumar, along with steering committee member Dr Akash Deep Aggarwal and nodal officer of Punjab State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), Dr Gagneen Kaur Sandhu. Punjab medical education and research minister Dr Balbir Singh extended his congratulations to the department and SOTTO team for the achievement. The recognition highlights Punjab's outstanding work in promoting awareness, developing infrastructure, and reaching significant milestones in deceased organ donations. Dr Balbir Singh reiterated the Punjab govt's commitment to further advancing these efforts, with a continued focus on promoting awareness, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering a culture of organ donation that would benefit countless lives across Punjab. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
One organ donor can save up to nine lives: Tripura CM Saha
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday emphasised the importance of organ donation as a life-saving humanitarian act , urging people to come forward and pledge their organs to save lives. The CM said this after flagging off the walkathon on the occasion of 15th Organ Donation Day at Amrakunja, Rabindra Satabarisiki Bhawan, Agartala today. "There can be no greater humanitarian service than saving another person's life through organ donation. One organ donor can save up to eight or nine lives, even after death, by donating vital organs like kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart," he said. CM Saha noted that while the concept of organ donation is gaining recognition, India still lags behind in comparison to several other countries due to a lack of public awareness and willingness to come forward. "We must work together to change this mindset and spread awareness at all levels," he added. The Chief Minister also highlighted the growing capabilities of Tripura's health infrastructure, stating that kidney transplants are now possible within the state. He further informed that the state government is taking steps toward enabling liver transplants , with the establishment of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) in 2023 being a major milestone. Paying tribute to all organ donors and their families, CM Saha called them true heroes for their selfless contributions to humanity. Dr Shankar Chakraborty, Medical Superintendent of GBP Hospital, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, and Dr Anup Kumar Saha, Principal of Agartala Government Medical College and others were present, as per the release. Earlier on July 31, Tripura CM attended a Blood Donation Camp and Vanamahotsav at Tripura Medical College (TMC) Hospital, Hapania in Agartala. Tripura CM also promoted community welfare by providing free Orthotics for Hip and Knee replacement patients and distributing spectacles to children under 14 years for a year as part of the program. This program was organised by TMC, Tripura Medical and Nursing College, and the Rotary Club of Agartala.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
In 2025, Gujarat records 3 cadaver organ donations weekly
Ahmedabad: By the end of July, Gujarat recorded 83 cadaver organ donors, with experts retrieving 259 organs, including 154 kidneys and 67 livers, among others. The State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) officials said that since 2022, the state recorded an average of 12 cadaver donations for organ retrieval per month. The figure saw a slight slump to 10 donations in 2024, which picked up pace in the first seven months of 2025. As India prepares to observe National Organ Donation Day on Aug 3, Dr Pranjal Modi, director of IKDRC and coordinator for Gujarat SOTTO, said that in the past few years, there was a rise in the number of hospitals functioning as organ retrieval and transplant centres. "We now have transplant experts and infrastructure in place for the same. It has helped improve numbers," he said. On Saturday, the state received three awards from National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) for its work in the field of organ donation. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad The state health department figures indicated that the state recorded 657 cadaver donations for organ retrieval in seven years, where a total of 2,039 organs were retrieved. The figure includes 1,130 kidneys, 566 livers, 147 hearts, 136 lungs, 31 hands, 19 pancreas, and 10 small intestines. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Experts pointed out that while awareness is there, steps must be taken to ensure that there is awareness about the declaration of brain death at district levels and facilities to treat those with severe head injuries in instances such as road crashes. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Study shows kidney donors live healthier lives: Doctor
Panaji: Among the rare cases of a husband donating a kidney to his wife is that of a woman who was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 28 and had to undergo regular dialysis treatment. Two years later, her husband, working in the UK, came down to donate one of his kidneys to her. 'Six months after the transplant, she joined her husband in the UK and two years later, she became pregnant and had a safe delivery,' said consultant nephrologist and kidney transplant physician Dr Shital Lengade. For many women on dialysis, a kidney transplant is the only way to regain their fertility and fulfil their dreams of having children. He added that the chances of conception for a woman on dialysis are very low, and in rare cases where a woman does become pregnant, it is treated as a very high-risk pregnancy, with many finding it difficult to complete their pregnancy. That's the reason doctors counsel and motivate young women to undergo kidney transplants, Dr Lengade said. 'One year after a transplant, when the body has adapted to the organ, the woman can safely become pregnant with no additional risks,' he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Unfortunately, due to todays nuclear family structure, most transplants are spousal. In the past, first-degree relatives would opt to be kidney donors, but this is not commonly seen today. Kidney donation is very safe and one of the safest organ donations, Dr Lengade said, adding that studies have shown that people who donate their kidneys live longer and healthier lives compared to those who opt not to be donors. 'This is because of two reasons: the donor is already a healthy person, and secondly, the person donating an organ tends to take more care of themselves and naturally leans towards a healthier lifestyle,' he said, adding that donors don't have to take any extra medication but are called in once a year for routine medical checkups. Those with no matching or willing donors sign up on the state's waiting list maintained by the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO). There are currently 78 persons waiting for kidneys from deceased donors. The youngest is 18 years old, and the oldest is 66, with the average age being 30-35 years. Out of eight cadaver deceased organ donations since SOTTO was set up in 2019, seven have taken place in the public sector at GMC, and of these, 14 out of 16 kidneys have been transplanted at GMC. 'This is something to be proud of and is exactly the reverse of what is seen in other states, where the private sector accounts for the majority of the cases,' said joint director of SOTTO, Dr Preeti Varghese said. 'GMC is also among the few govt institutions that have a Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) lab on their own premises, which is the cornerstone of the transplant programme for both deceased and living donors,' she said, adding that reports don't have to be sent to Mumbai. Out of the eight deceased organ donation cases, only one was of Goan origin and from the elite section of the society, while the rest of the seven could be broadly categorised as daily wage workers, she said. Out of the 16 kidneys of the eight deceased donors, 14 were transplanted in Goa. The eight deceased's other organs—seven livers, four hearts, and two pairs of lungs—were sent to other states. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
