At a time when a girl child is not a priority for most people, here is a heartening story of a gardener father who donated his kidney to save the life of his 12-year-old daughter, Deepika.
Born to Krishnappa and Saroja, residents of Poojenahalli near Devanahalli, Deepika was an active school-going girl till last year when she fell sick for the first time with symptoms that hinted a serious health condition. Diagnosed as anaemia initially, her condition steadily deteriorated as the local doctors were unable to identify the real problem.
She was later taken to Narayana Health City and was diagnosed to be suffering from juvenile nephronophthisis, a congenital cause of childhood renal failure.
Congenital kidney disease (CKD) refers to a condition related to irreversible kidney damage that can further progress to end-stage renal disease.
Doctors informed the parents that a transplant was inevitable.
Shocked, they decided to do every possible bit to save their daughter’s life. Learning that the success rate is always high if the organ is donated by one of the parents, they got themselves screened. After the mother’s donation was ruled out because she is diabetic, Deepika’s 59-year-old father was only too eager to donate. He was declared fit and the surgery was conducted on July 10.
“It is hard for parents to see their children in agony be it a daughter or a son. I have three daughters and a son of whom Deepika is the youngest,” Mr. Krishnappa said.
Post-transplant, Deepika is now looking forward to resuming school.
Saumil Gaur, Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, and Sanjay Rao, Consultant Paediatric Transplant Surgeon, who conducted the surgery, said Deepika’s case is an eye-opener and a classic example of a family’s love and reassurance for their daughter.
