Meet Devananda, India’s Youngest Organ Donor Who Saved Her Father’s Life

Pic courtesy DY 365

Thrissur: Indian law does not permit minors to donate organs, under the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994.

But when a suitable donor could not be found for her father Pratheesh — who is suffering from chronic liver disease – 17-year-old Kerala girl Devananda was determined to come to her father’s aid.

The 48-year-old Pratheesh, who runs a café in Thrissur, was diagnosed with a liver disease along with cancerous lesion, reported NDTV.

Class 12 student Devananda convinced her family to approach Kerala High Court and seek an exemption for her to be the donor.

The high court gave her the nod, and Devananda donated a portion of her liver on February 9 to save her father, thus becoming the country’s youngest donor.

She prepared for the surgery by making changes in her diet and also joined a local gym for regular exercises to ensure her liver was in the best condition.

The surgery was conducted at Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva. Appreciating the heroic efforts of Devananda, the hospital waived off the surgery expenses.

After a week’s stay at Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva – where the surgery was conducted – a “proud, happy and relieved” Devananda was discharged from hospital.

The hospital, on its part, waived off the surgery expenses.