Keerthana (inset)Kochi: Extending a helping hand on hartal day, Kerala police virtually formed a 'green corridor' to transport a liver from a hospital in Kozhikode to another hospital in Kochi for a transplant.
The liver of an 18-year-old girl who was declared brain dead, was harvested at Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode.
The ambulance carrying organs of Keerthana started from Kozhikode at 9.15 am and reached Kochi about 2.5 hours later, covering a distance of about 200 kilometres. At PVS hospital, the liver was transplanted into K V Joseph (65). The transplant which was completed by evening successfully, overcame limitations imposed by the hartal.
Keerthana (18) was a degree student at Nadakkavu MES College and had gone for her violin classes when she was hit by a bus on Sunday. At Baby Memorial Hospital, doctors confirmed that she was brain dead. Her father Anil Kumar agreed that her organs be harvested for transplant. He had lost his wife and younger daughter earlier.
As soon as permission from the father was received, the priority list under the Mrithasanjeevani programme was checked and Kottyam native Joseph was contacted for the transplant.
A team under Dr Solomon went to Kozhikode and collected the organ from Keerthana's body.
Keerthana's kidneys and eyes were also donated after which her funeral was conducted.
Police took necessary steps to ensure that the hartal called by ruling CPM-led LDF over demonetization, would not affect a medical emergency in the state.
