THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In their 30s, Sujith S and Mithun Ashok-both organ transplant recipients-are set to fly to Germany to represent India at the World Transplant Games in Dresden from August 17 to 24. They are the only two participants from Kerala in the 57-member national contingent. Both men overcame life-threatening illnesses through transplants-Sujith with a liver transplant, Mithun with a kidney transplant-and now lead active, fulfilling lives. Their journeys, they hope, will inspire anyone who doubts the quality of life possible after organ transplantation. The Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (K-SOTTO) felicitated them on World Organ Donation Day.
Hailing from Kallumthazham in Kollam, Sujith will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m relay, volleyball, and football events. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he once dreamed of becoming a cricketer and even made it to the state hockey team. His athletic pursuits came to an abrupt halt in 2019 when he was diagnosed with Wilson's Disease, a genetic disorder that caused liver failure-just six months after his marriage. His mother, Thara G, became his donor, giving part of her liver and a new lease of life. "It began with severe vomiting of blood. I was devastated, but my family's support helped me wrest back the life I wanted," recalls the 33-year-old.
Today, Sujith works as a physical education teacher at Government High School, Panayil, and trains under athletic coach Jayakumar. He has already made his mark, winning silver medals at the National Transplant Games in Kochi in 2023. His advice: "Exercise and food are the most important aspects of your health-even if you are healthy." A father of two, he remains committed to staying active and encouraging others to do the same.
For 37-year-old Mithun from Poojappura, sport became both therapy and passion. He began playing darts to rebuild his eye-hand coordination, which had been affected by complications from kidney disease. His first transplant, from an unrelated donor in 2008, saved his life, but when it failed after 12 years, his sister, Shrithi Ashok, donated her kidney. The years in between were filled with countless dialysis sessions and three major surgeries-but they only strengthened his determination. He went on to excel in darts and table tennis, earning a national darts ranking of 59. Mithun will depart for Germany on August 14, competing in darts (singles and triples) on August 17 and table tennis on August 18. "I have mostly practiced darts at home because the sport isn't very popular here," says the SBI employee. "Staying active is essential, especially when you want to minimise the impact of heavy medication."