Organ donors, cardiac patients take part in Mumbai Marathon, bust myths

When Ragini and her husband N Jayendran hit the finish line after covering 21.097 km on Sunday, the couple had achieved much more than a personal milestone – they had just bust the myth that persons with a history of organ transplant should keep off long-distance running.

Two years ago, Ragini gave a fresh lease of life to Jayendran, who was down with severe renal impairment, when she decided to give one of her kidneys to him. With only one functioning kidney for each, despite great interest, the Chembur residents were skeptical of running a half-marathon.

“I was scared that it would cause serious health complications. It was only fear that was holding us back. We are grateful to our coach for all the training and motivation,” said Ragini, a teacher by profession.  

The couple said they were rejected by at least five trainers on the grounds that they had undergone a transplant procedure. “But our current coach took us under his wing and asked us to run and see the results. Everyone in his group encouraged us,” she said.

The couple apart, the “I finished” half-marathon medal hung around another kidney transplant patient’s neck at Azad Maidan.

“We are here to tell the people that by donating or receiving kidneys nothing goes wrong and life does not stop for either the donor or the recipient,” said Dr Jatin Kothari of Apex Kidney Foundation, a non-profit trust that works towards prevention of kidney diseases by education the masses.

Proponents of organ donation say the story of these runners will go a long way to inspire many more people to come forward to donate kidneys and save lives.

“Look at us, we will be participating in the next marathon at Hiranandani Complex, Powai, in February and aim to better our timings,” said an ecstatic Jayendran, who is a chartered accountant.

The mega event also saw 77 rehabilitated cardiac patients of the Asian Heart Institute taking part in various categories, including 26 in half-marathon. Among them was 57-year-old Pichumani Venkatraman who ran as a Pacer – to lead and guide fellow runners achieve their targets. Dhananjay Yellurkar, who had undergone a bypass surgery in 2009, ran 42 kms.

Dr Tilak Suvarna, senior interventional cardiologist, Asian Heart Institute, was upbeat at the numbers. “They are those bravehearts who didn’t let their heart condition come in the way. It is a misconception that people who have had a bypass surgery or any other heart condition cannot run such long distances. All they have to do is to take precautions.”