On November 2, 2025, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador with the MOHAN Foundation, conducted an awareness session on organ donation during the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Members’ Meeting at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Mandrem, Goa.
Gabriel shared that his motivation to spread awareness about organ donation stemmed from a personal experience of kidney failure within his family. His wife’s sister had been advised to undergo a kidney transplant. Initially, his wife volunteered to be the donor, but due to high blood pressure, she was deemed ineligible. Her husband then stepped forward and donated his kidney to her, giving her a new lease on life. Although it was an incompatible transplant, through divine intervention and advanced medical care, the procedure was successful. As of October 2025, eight years have passed since the transplant.
During the session, Gabriel emphasized the importance of proactive health management. He encouraged everyone to undergo regular health check-ups, including kidney function tests and urine tests to detect long-term protein loss, which can indicate potential health concerns. He also highlighted the usefulness of ultrasound scans in identifying conditions such as fatty liver, kidney stones, gallstones, and issues related to the prostate or uterus. These preventive measures, he noted, help in early diagnosis and timely medical intervention.
Gabriel then posed a question to the attendees—whether organ donation was possible when a person passes away at home. Some participants responded that it might be possible within a specific time frame. He clarified that in cases of circulatory death at home, organ donation is not possible, but tissue donation (such as corneas and skin) and whole-body donation to an anatomy department are viable options.
He further explained that organ donation is possible only in cases of brain death, such as after a major accident or brain haemorrhage, and only with the consent of the family. He stressed the importance of communicating one’s wish to donate organs to family members to ensure the decision is respected when the time comes.
To deepen understanding, Gabriel played a short video explaining brain death. He also informed the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Clifford Cardozo, that he would share a presentation and a short animated film on organ donation created by Ms. Shweta Gupta. He suggested that these resources be shared with PPC members and parishioners through the church’s WhatsApp groups to further spread awareness.
The session was attended by around 30 PPC members, who received informational flyers addressing frequently asked questions about organ donation.
Gabriel concluded by expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Clifford Cardozo, and all PPC members for their warm support and for giving him the opportunity to represent the MOHAN Foundation and speak on the topic "Concepts of Organ Donation."
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