Kerala: First heart transplant at Sree Chitra, recipient 14-year-old girl

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The heart of a brain-dead patient hailing from Kollam was transplanted to a 14-year-old girl, who was suffering from cardiomyopathy, at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology here on Monday.
The heart of B Dalia (47), a teacher at Govt higher secondary school, Kuzhithura, Kollam, who has imparted knowledge, love and care to many students, has been now transplanted to a 14-year-old girl from Thrissur.
The girl was undergoing treatment at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. She was registered for heart surgery through Mritasanjeevani scheme.
Sree Chitra witnessed its first heart transplant surgery, which was performed by a team led by Dr Saumya Raman. The organ was delivered to Sree Chitra on Monday morning at 11.30am from a private hospital where Dalia was declared brain dead.
Dalia's heart, two kidneys, liver and two eyes were also donated by her relatives. One kidney and liver were given to patients who are under treatment at a private hospital in the state capital.
Another kidney was given to a patient at medical college hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The retina was handed over to Thiruvananthapuram Regional Institute of Ophthalmology.
Health minister Veena George paid tributes to Dalia's relatives, who were willing to donate the organs even in such a difficult time.
Dalia was admitted to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on July 19 due to intracerebral haemorrhage. Brain death was confirmed on Sunday evening.
When the proposal of organ donation came up, her husband J Sreekumar and sons Sreedeva and Sreedathan agreed to it. The organ harvesting surgeries were done on Sunday evening itself.
Dalia's husband Sreekumar is a senior clerk in the irrigation department in Thiruvananthapuram. Her mortal remains were kept for public homage at the school in Kollam where she taught and the final rites were held in the evening on Monday.