Bengaluru: When people pass away, only their memories live on. Shanti, who succumbed in an accident, is not just a memory but lives on in seven persons. This was possible because her family decided to donate her organs.

Shanti D’Souza (40), a resident of Dasarahalli, Peenya in Bengaluru was married to Benedict D’Souza for more than two years. She was formerly a nurse working at the Columbia Asia Hospital.

On March 10, Shanti was severely injured when she suddenly fell from a two wheeler. Immediately, she was admitted to Saptagiri Hospital for treatment. The doctors performed emergency operation for the head trauma. However, the treatment was unsuccessful and doctors declared her “brain dead.”

The doctors counselled her husband Benedict and her family to donate organs. They consented wholeheartedly.

After this, Shanti was shifted to the Columbia Asia Hospital for harvesting the organs. After completing all procedures mandated by the law, a team of doctors from Columbia Asia Hospital, St. John’s Medical College and Narayana Hrudayala harvested six organs for transplantation.

These organs were donated to seven patients. The liver was transplanted in two patients. A 40-year-old lady from Kolkata received her heart.

Her family is bereaved by the tragic death of Shanti but the decision to donate her organs has brought happiness to seven families. Shanti now continues to live in these seven families. We congratulate Benedict D’Souza for the noble and bold decision.

Accidents claim many lives each day. Unfortunately, in most cases the relatives do not donate organs. Everyday many patients die waiting for organs transplantation because of their non-availability. Let Shanti and her family be an inspiration for us also to choose organ donation.