14th February, Mumbai: A woman from Kandivali offered her husband a new lease on life this Valentine’s Day by donating one of her kidneys. 46-year-old Shivani Mittal volunteered to donate her kidney to her husband Tanuj (48) who has been suffering from chronic kidney failure for four years due to diabetes. After two bouts of COVID infections and hypertension, Tanuj’s health had deteriorated, and doctors were unable to sustain him on dialysis.
The successful transplant took place at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, where senior nephrologists Dr Anup Chaudhary and Dr Harish Pathak have been managing Tanuj on Dialysis since past four years. The doctors praised Shivani’s selfless act, stating that it was a testament to the power of love and the strength of the human spirit.
Speaking about the transplant, Dr Chaudhary said “the transplant had been postponed three times due to Tanuj’s COVID infection and subsequent mild lung fibrosis. Even on the day of the operation, the patient developed anxiety, and his blood pressure shot up, but Shivani, who owns a business of imitation jewellery, calmed him down and counseled him in the Operation Theatre alongside us.”
Dr Pathak emphasized the importance of organ donation and the need for more awareness, saying that Shivani’s gesture not only saved her husband’s life but also serves as an inspiration for others to come forward and help those in need. “With the number of people in need of organ transplants increasing every day, it is essential to raise awareness about the benefits of organ donation and encourage more people to come forward and help save a life,” he added. The couple, who have been married for 25 years, are now recovering well and will be discharged soon.
