Mumbai's 1st heart donee turns a year older

Madhavi Vishwakarma, who turns nine on Monday, is back to her routine life. She sings, she dances and has recently scored 75 per cent in her Class 3 exams. For the parents of Mumbai's first paediatric heart recipients, this is like being blessed with a new life. "I would say this is her first birthday. It was a miracle that she found a donor who was similar in blood group, age and weight," said her mother Smita.

The family will be celebrating Madhavi's birthday with a mata-ki-chowki at their Goregaon home. "All of us in the family have pledged their organs. Madhavi herself wants to be an organ donor and grow up to be a cardiologist," says her mother.

In January 2016, Deyaan Udani, a seven-year-old boy from Australia, collapsed while on a vacation in India. The grief-stricken family decided to donate his organs which made him the city's youngest donor. His family has got thousands to pledge their organs across the world, turning it into a movement.

Mumbai has seen six paediatric heart transplants so far but finding the right match proves to be a challenge for young patients.

"It is great to see our patients and their families taking an initiative to spread awareness about organ donation; coming from the recipient themselves gives it a better perspective. To see young Madhavi celebrate her birthday in a way where she can help build a society that supports organ donation, is great," said Dr Anvay Mulay, Head- Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, Mulund.