Family pledge as organ donors to mark matriarch’s 71st birthday

Matriarch of Kamothe-based family, Parvati Shankar Bhagat, marked her 71st birthday in a unique way. She signed to be an organ donor. And as a birthday present to her, her five sons, their wives and her two grandsons also pledged to be organ donors. The family also inspired 12 more people, who attended the function, to pledge for organ donation.

Ten years ago, on her 61th birthday, Parvati and her family pledged to donate their eyes. This year, when the septuagenarian expressed her desire to have her organs donated rather than be cremated, Her son, Dr Arunkumar Bhagat took the initiative to fulfill her wishes.

Conversations on the need for organ donation was a regular feature in the joint family home, said Dr Arunkumar. Dr Arunkumar’s father, Shankar Bhagat passed away in 1995. After their father’s death, the sons worked hard to complete their education. Dr Arunkumar is a GP in Kamothe, one of his brothers is into construction, two are auto-rickshaw drivers, and the youngest, now an advocate, also drove auto-rickshaw to sponsor his education.

Transplant surgeon Dr Kailash Jawade, who runs an NGO DOST that spreads awareness on organ donation, received the organ donation forms from Bhagat family and Panvel Tehsildar Deepak Akkade was also present for the ceremony.