In death, woman gave life to three people

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) A woman suffering from fatal brain tumor, gave life to three other people in her death through the multiple organ transplant.

Leela Devi, 26, lost the battle with her brain tumor yesterday.

But showing the courage and compassion, her husband Lance Naik GS Bisht of 26 Rashtriya Rifles consented to donate her organs after she was pronounced brain dead.

A combined team of over 40 doctors and para-medical staff from Army Hospital (R&R) and Base Hospital here yesterday successfully transplanted her liver into a serving soldier with terminal cirrhosis due to Hepatitis B and one kidney into a 12-year-old daughter of a soldier suffering from end stage kidney disease.

The other kidney was handed over to AIIMS, where it was transplanted into a 45-years-old with chronic kidney failure.

Organ donation after brain death is rare in India. The Armed Forces launched the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA) earlier this year to increase awareness on organ donation. According to Col AK Seth, Director of AORTA, hundreds of serving personnel and their families have already pledged to donate their organs following a sustained campaign.

UNI