When Sukumaran’s family decided to donate his heart in May 2003, the decision paved the way to the first successful heart transplantation in the state.
Sumitha, Sujith and Sunil, children of the late Sukumaran, had donated their father’s heart after he became brain dead.
Because of their courageous decision, Abraham from Mannar near Haripad, the benefactor, got an extended life of two years.
On the eve of 10 years of successful heart transplantation, a team of doctors, led by Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram, who conducted the surgery, got together at Sukumaran’s house at Perumpadanna, near North Paravoor, to share those memories.
“My father always wanted to donate his organs. Both of my parents had given in writing to donate their eyes. When he became brain dead, the hospital authorities asked us whether we were ready to donate his heart. We were also told that Abraham, to whom my father’s heart was to be donated, would only live for two weeks. If we were ready for a donation, his life could be extended. That’s when we decided to go ahead with,” Sumith said.
On behalf of the Heart Care Foundation, a memento was presented to Sukumaran’s wife Padmini.