37 yrs on, both donor and recipient hale and hearty

​Hyderabad: Blood is thicker than water. This is best exemplified in the case of Md Ishaq, 63, a businessman and his brother Md Ibrahim, 69, office superintendent at Mumtaz College. The year was 1982, Ibrahim then in his 20s was found to have high blood pressure that led to oedema formation in his kidneys.  In a span of a few months, his life turned upside down. Even after a 16 regular dialysis there was no improvement and the doctors declared that the kidneys had failed. 

In what can be termed as a miracle in those days when the concept of kidney transplantation was new and few knew about it, his brother Ishaq came forward without batting an eyelid. The transplantation was done on May 16, 1982. Today, 37 years later, both are hale and hearty. 

Dr A Gopal Kishan, nephrologist who performed the surgery tested and matched Md Ibrahim’s kidneys with all three of his brothers but only Md Ishaq’s matched perfectly. “Without a second thought, I decided to present my kidney to my brother. After all, there’s no life without your loved ones and being the younger one I felt it my duty to do this,” said Ishaq. 

Speaking to The Hans India, on the sidelines of the organ donation walk at Koti, the duo said it was the first ever kidney transplant in the history of Indian government hospitals.  Md Ibrahim said, “Giving and taking lives is in the hands of Almighty. My brother gave me new life. I will be grateful to the Almighty and my brother for this endowment.” 

Both brothers are surviving on a single kidney each and are completely fit and fine, they claim. Md. Ibrahim said, “It didn’t even take me one year to get rid of my sickness. I got married two years after my transplant and had three healthy babies who are now grownups and got married too. There hasn’t been any adverse effect of the surgery and people should actually look upon organ donation to achieve a green and healthy life.” 

The brothers agree that the need for organ donors is bigger than ever. Organ donation is an opportunity to help others - your loved ones, friends, or total strangers.  You will be either saving or improving other's lives.

 - Asna Khundmiri