Surat: Dil ka Rishta— Her daughter’s heart gave life to her ‘son’

AHMEDABAD: Surat-resident Amita Patel lost a daughter but gained a son— all with a change of heart. Patel, who was distraught after losing her fashion designer aspirant daughter Jahnvi, takes heart in the fact that whenever she really misses her girl, her son Lalji will call her.
“Lalji has Jahnvi’s heart beating inside him. Who else will understand a mother’s feelings than a loving daughter’s heart?” says Amita.
Amita and 26-year old Lalji’s is a ‘dil ka rishta’ which began after Amita and her husband decided to donate their 21-year-old fashion designers organs following her brain death in aftermath of an accident. Her heart went to Lalji who was at the doorstep of death with his vital organ failing.

This one gesture united two strangers in a way that Lalji and Amita have become family for life. Lalji is now a ‘son’ to Amita who was even part of her husband’s cremation.
August 13 is celebrated as the World Organ Donation Day, and their story underscores how organ donation can connect families and lives.
Amita still recalls that day in 2018 when Jahnvi went on a fun ride with her friends. She had just turned 21 a few days ago. She fell off a car’s closed boot and had a concussion on November 17. After three days of ICU treatment, she was declared brain-dead. Counselling by a team from Donate Life NGO led the family to donate her heart, kidneys, liver and corneas.
The heart went to Lalji Gediya, a resident of Surat, who was admitted in a hospital in Mumbai on November 20, 2018. A green corridor was created and the heart was sent in time to save Lalji’s life. He was 23 years old then.
“My heart was not pumping adequate blood. I was in and out of hospital and doctors had told me that heart transplant was the only option. I was near death when I got Jahnvi’s heart. I am the only brother to four sisters and bear the responsibility of the family,” Lalji told TOI. He currently works as a construction contractor.
“He was present when Tejas, Jahnvi’s father was on deathbed. He also remained present during the last rites and helped the family. I have a younger son, but Lalji is very much part of our family who ensures that we don’t feel the void left behind by Jahnvi’s untimely departure,” says Amita.
Amita says Jahnvi was a foodie and loved dressing up! Lalji did not share these likings but seems Jahnvi’s heart has led him to warm up to good dressing and gastronomical adventures.
“I am alive because of Jahnvi and feel a special conncet with the Patels, especially with mom,” says Lalji.
“Parts of my daughter are living in five persons. Organ donation is the biggest donation possible,” says Amita. “There are several misconceptions, and we try to dispel them whenever we come across such cases.”
Nilesh Mandlewala, founder of Donate Life, an NGO working for the promotion of organ donation, said that generally the organ donors and recipients don’t meet due to several reasons, but this case was exceptional. “An organ from a brain-dead person can give a new lease of life to someone. There are several such stories where the families have got connected through this noble act,” he said.