Teacher in Mumbai gets new heart from Gujarat’s brain-dead chaiwala

The heart was flown in to the city from Bhavnagar, Gujarat on Tuesday night, after the relatives of a 27-year-old brain dead man, Rajubhai Dhapa, agreed to donate his organs

A 27-year-old primary school teacher from Kolhapur, who had been suffering from a fatal heart condition for the last three years, received a heart transplant on Wednesday morning. This was the city’s 37th such surgery.

On November 14, Dhapa was shifted to Bajrangdas Bapa Arogya Dham Hospital, Bhavnagar, from a primary care hospital in his village where he was initially treated. Doctors declared him brain dead on admission.(HT Photo)

The heart was flown in to the city from Bhavnagar, Gujarat on Tuesday night, after the relatives of a 27-year-old brain dead man, Rajubhai Dhapa, agreed to donate his organs. Doctors who were treating Dhapa said that he ran a tea stall in the outskirts of Bhavnagar and was injured in a road accident. On November 14, Dhapa was shifted to Bajrangdas Bapa Arogya Dham Hospital, Bhavnagar, from a primary care hospital in his village where he was initially treated. Doctors declared him brain dead on admission. After counselling, Dhapa’s family consented to donate his heart, kidneys, liver, skin and corneas.

The heart was transferred to Fortis Hospital, Mulund in one hour and 40 minutes, via a chartered flight, said officials.

Dr Anvay Mulay, head of cardiac transplant team, who performed the transplant, said that the recipient had been wait-listed for a transplant for over two weeks. “We salute all the courageous families who’ve helped save and enrich lives of much deserving wait-listed patients. The surgery was successful. The patient is now recuperating in the ICU,” said Dr Mulay.