Again Tragedy Turns to Hope through Organ Donation,  12-Year-Old’s Heart travels 2500 kilometres from Chandigarh to Chennai for a Matching Recipient.
Other harvested organs including Liver, Kidneys & Corneas transplanted here in PGIMER Impacting Six Lives & Inspiring Countless Others  

In a heart-wrenching yet profoundly inspiring act of generosity, the family of 12-year-old Sayogta, a young girl from Village Mundia, District Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, has donated her organs, giving the gift of life to four terminally ill patients and the ‘gift of sight’ to two corneal blind patients.

The harvested heart of 12 year old Sayogta, the deceased organ donor here in PGIMER traveled around 2500 kilometers for a matching recipient in Chennai.The harvested liver, kidneys and corneas were transplanted to five patients here in PGIMER, thereby impacting six lives, one in Chennai and other five in PGIMER Chandigarh and inspiring countless others.

Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, expressed his admiration and gratitude for the family's decision: "The courage and selflessness demonstrated by Sayogta's family are beyond commendable. Their decision has not only saved lives but has also set a profound example of humanity and compassion. This act of kindness highlights the importance of organ donation and its impact on countless lives."

Sayogta, the daughter of Sh. Hari Om, tragically succumbed to injuries sustained from a road accident on May 12, 2024.After initially receiving treatment at ESIC Baddi, she was admitted in PGIMER the same day. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, Sayogta was declared brain dead, on May 17, 2024.

Despite their immense grief, Sayogta’s family made the brave and altruistic decision to donate her organs, ensuring that her legacy lives on through the lives she saved, offering a lifeline to those in dire need.

Sh. Hari Om, Sayogta’s father, shared his emotional journey leading to this decision: "Losing my daughter is an indescribable pain, but knowing that she lives on through others brings a measure of solace. In our darkest hour, we chose to give hope to others. It’s what Sayogta would have wanted."

Detailing about the latest cadaver donation, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent PGIMER & Nodal Officer, ROTTO (North) elaborated, “We were deeply moved by the family's decision to come forward and donate Sayogta's organs. Their generosity is a powerful reminder of the difference one family can make. Following the family’s  consent, Sayogta's organs—heart, liver, kidneys and corneas—were retrieved and transplanted with precision and care for transplantation to matching recipients.”
The successful transplants are a testament to the incredible work of our medical teams and the vital importance of organ donation, stated Prof Koushal.

Since, there was no matching recipient for heart here; it was allocated for a matching recipient in MGM Healthcare Hospital in Chennai with the intervention of NOTTO and was sent from PGIMER Chandigarh to International AirPort Mohali in 22 minutes by creating a ‘Green Corridor’ for the Vistara airlines flight scheduled for departure at 3.25 pm on Friday. After landing at 8.30 pm at Chennai, the retrieved heart was taken to MGM Healthcare Hospital in Chennai where it was transplanted to a terminally ill 6 year old female patient.
The retrieved liver was transplanted to a 36-year-old terminally ill male patient, giving him a second lease on life. Two renal failure patients, a 25-year-old male and a 42-year-old male, were fortunate to receive Sayogta’s kidneys, granting them another chance at life here at PGIMER.
The harvested corneas, on transplantation, restored the sight of two corneal blind patients, thereby influencing six lives in all, one in Chennai and other five in PGIMER Chandigarh.
Each year, half a million Indians die while waiting for an organ transplant, because no suitable donor can be found for them. That’s a life lost every minute!  There is a need to spread the word that each one of us has the potential to be an organ donor, and we all have the power to influence many lives by donating our heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and eyes.