Family donates 22-yr-old girl’s body to Mayo

Nagpur: In a move that could inspire others, family of a 22-year-old city girl, who died of multiple organ failure due to dengue and jaundice, donated her body to medical college for study purpose.
Sayali Wasnik, who was born with sickle cell anaemia, died on August 7 late night. Her body was donated to the anatomy department of the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC) on Thursday morning.
Her father Siddharth, a lecturer at Government ITI in Bhadravati (Chandrapur district), told TOI that the family took the decision as Sayali was very good in studies and donating her body for study purpose would be the best tribute to her.
“She was a bright and ambitious girl right from the childhood. She was aware of her medical condition. She took medicines, fought sickle cell bravely and never compromised with her dreams,” said Siddharth.
Sayali had scored 93.7% in SSC and completed graduation in Arts from Hislop College with distinction. She was preparing for UPSC at a Pune-based institute from May this year to pursue her dream of becoming an IAS officer.
While in Pune she caught infection due to heavy rains in the last week of July. Her father asked her to return to Nagpur immediately. “Due to rains, her schedule and meal timings got disturbed and health started deteriorating,” said Siddharth.
Sayali was admitted at a local ‘Cure It’ Hospital on August 4. Despite efforts from doctors, her condition deteriorated and she passed away on August 7.
Before the body could be donated to Mayo Hospital, the family members were allowed to take it home. Rituals were performed as per Buddhist traditions on Thursday morning and the body was transported to the anatomy department where formalities of cadaver donation were completed.
“Our family is well aware of the body donation movement. Instead of performing last rites like consigning it to flames or burial, the body was donated to allow medical students learn more about human body and complications of dengue,” said Sayali’s brother Yash who is a polytechnic student.