Priyanka Jain, a resident of Zirakpur, saved four lives in her death – a destiny she etched for herself. In life, the zealous 23-year-old promoted the noble cause of blood and organ donation enthusiastically as a volunteer with an NGO and in her death she donated her organs and saved four lives.
A brilliant life was cut short tragically during a fun trip to Goa. Priyanka suffered a fatal head injury when the cab she was travelling in with her friends, met with an accident on its way from Goa to Pune.
As the news reached her family, they immediately rushed Priyanka to the PGI on January 27. Despite incessant efforts by the attending doctors, she could not be retrieved from her critical condition and she lost her battle with life on February 2 due to cardiac arrest.
“No words can convey our loss. But what gives us strength is the fact that she had registered herself as an organ donor, and we could actually fulfil her last wish,” said Ashima, her elder sister.
Through the brave-heart family’s magnanimous gesture, Priyanka’s kidneys were transplanted onto two patients and her corneas gave the gift of sight to another two at the PGI.
“Compassion was at the core of her being, so it seems right that this should also be her final act,” said Sunita Jain, Priyanka’s mother.
Her father Bhupinder shared that Priyanka was the one who motivated the entire Jain family to pledge their organs. “Little did we know a noble gesture would end so tragically for us. But, we are immensely proud of Priyanka. She is the child every family should be blessed with,” said her inconsolable father.
Recalling the bubbly young girl that Priyanka was, Rakesh Sangar, president, Shri Shiv Kanwar Manasangh Charitable Trust, with whom she worked tirelessly to promote the cause of blood and organ donation, said, “One could easily spot her in the blood/organ donation camps because of her positive energy, energetic demeanour and proactive engagement with the participants motivating them to join the cause and register for blood and organ donation. It is an irreparable loss.”
Dr Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO, PGI, detailing about this cadaver donation experience stated, “Many people find talk of organ donation uncomfortable and perhaps morbid, and others believe organ donation is a good thing but put off doing something about it for another day. But there are exceptions like Priyanka, who instil confidence in the cadaver donation programme and become instrumental in saving precious lives. They are our real heroes. We also honour the resolute spirit of the family and determined effort by the entire PGI team involved in the process to enable the family fulfil their beloved daughter’s last wish by giving life to others.”