Muslim-Hindu men donate kidneys to each other’s wives

Jaipur : Just ahead of Eid ul-Adha and Onam celebrations, these two families have set an example of friendship and brotherhood that go far beyond religious boundaries. In a private hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, two kidney transplants reportedly took place, but the uniqueness of the situation was that a Hindu man donated his kidney for a Muslim woman, whose husband, in turn, donated his kidney to the former’s wife.

Though it does seem like a fantastical situation and sheer luck that the two couples should be in the same hospital, according to reports in Rajasthan Patrika and Times of India, doctors at the hospital claim that this is a first of its kind in the state. Hasanpur-resident Anita Mehra was suffering from glomerular disease for the past few years leading to kidney failure, while Tasleem Jahan’s (who stays close to Ajmere Gate) kidney had failed due to excessive use of pain killers.

While the former’s blood group was B positive, the latter’s blood group was A postive. Both were undergoing dialysis in the same hospital, when the doctors had a brainwave and they suggested the husbands – Vinod Mehra’s blood group was A positive and Anwar Ahmed’s B positive – do a kidney swap. After a counselling session, the two readily agreed. According to Human Organ Transplant Act only near relatives can donate kidneys.

But, it permits swap kidney transplant. “In 90 per cent of the cases, females are donors but here males are donors,” said the hospital’s chief nephrologist, Dr Ashutosh Soni. In fact, just a couple of months back, The Hindu had reported a case of swap transplant in Bengaluru when two women had donated kidneys to each other’s husbands.

“I will celebrate this Eid-ul-Adha with more fervour, all thanks to Vinod. He has given his kidney to my wife. My wife is doing well now and recovering. I have a respect to Vinod bhai as he has given his kidney to my wife,” Ahmed told TOI. While Mehra reportedly said, “If it is Eid-Ul-Azha for Ahmed, it is no less than Diwali for me”. The surgery was conducted on September 2 and was reportedly a success. While the husbands have been discharged, the wives are expected to be discharged from the hospital on September 12.