Organ receiver now runs foundation for organ donation.
Reena Raju, the first woman from the state to undergo a heart transplant four years ago, is now running an organisation, Light a Life, that raises funds for and spreads awareness about organ transplantation.
“The best way to honour a donor is by living life to the fullest and making it worthy,” says Raju, as she celebrates the 4th year of her rebirth, post the transplant.
The awareness drives and funds raised have helped many patients across the country. The six patients who received free life saving medicines and over 75 patients and their family members who received counselling, remain thankful for the support.
“Everyone knows that transplant is a costly affair. But the ones who want to save lives of their loved ones often miss some critical information – of the challenges and cost involved in post transplant care,” she pointed out.
“A kidney transplant can cost anywhere between Rs5 lakh and 15 lakh and patients who sell their property and jewellery to manage this expense are then left with nothing to look after the post transplant expenses.”
Jayaram G, a second year B Com student who underwent a kidney transplant agrees.
“I only wanted to live. But I had no organ and no money. My parents are labourers. After the surgery, I realised that the anti-rejection drugs that I need to take everyday to ensure that the new organ does not get rejected by my body are very expensive.”
He is currently being given free medicines by Light a Life. The other challenges they are exposed to is that of infections.
“Maintenance and care are so crucial,” says Mayanna K, a 41-year-old kidney recipient and farmer, “After the surgery, I now know that life has become very difficult. I have to take so many precautions and care to maintain the organ and avoid infections. Even a fever can lead to an organ failure.”
Mayanna managed to undergo the transplant and avail medicines at subsidised rates from a government hospital and is now receiving free medicines for a year from Raju’s foundation.
Manikantan A, a cable operator from Chennai earns less than half of what he needs to spend on post-transplant medication, and so decided to reduce his dosage of the immuno suppressant drugs which led to many complications.
For a transplant to be viable, it should be affordable and people should be completely informed about the extra care, regular tests and the side effects that the medicines could bring, Raju said.
The first heart recipient in the country to complete a 5.7km marathon and 8km cyclathon, Raju did not allow anything to take her life away from her.
“The most thrilling experience was parasailing and underwater sea walk that I recently went to. Isn’t it wonderful that one could take one’s donor heart to the sky and the sea bed?” the adventurous woman asked. Awareness about transplant is not just in terms of financial or medical aspects.
There are a bundle of myths waiting to be busted, she explained.
“Many patients reject organs because they think their feelings and emotions will be changed with a new organ coming in, which is ridiculous. And religious views such as ‘eye donors will go to heaven without eyes’ and ‘bodies must be cremated within a certain period of time’ stops a donor from helping the needy.”
The 32-year-old also believes that Indians are givers and if we can spread sufficient awareness and make the system of transplantation transparent, people will come forward and donate.
source: http://www.danindia.com / DNA / Home> Bangalore> Report / by Shruthi EN / Place: Bangalore, Agency: DNA / Wednesday – November 20th, 2013