Donor Memorial

• Nine-day-old  neonate

  On January 11, 2026, at 05:50 PM, Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader, MOHAN Foundation, stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh, received a call from Mr. Mohit, Senior Nursing Officer, AIIMS Rishikesh, informing him about the demise of a nine-day-old neonate in the Pediatric Surgery Ward. Mr. Mohit, along with Mr. Mahipal, Senior Nursing Officer, who was present on duty, had been closely involved with the family since the child's clinical deterioration and subsequent death.
  
  In the immediate aftershock of the loss, the grieving parents approached the nursing staff seeking guidance regarding the final rites. During this interaction, they also expressed a desire to understand whether their child's brief life could contribute meaningfully to society. Recognizing the sensitivity of the situation and the family's intent, the nursing team connected them with Mr. Arora and requested him to meet the family to explain the possibility and process of whole-body donation.
  
  Mr. Arora met the bereaved parents in the Paediatric Surgery Ward and, along with Mr. Mahipal, provided compassionate counselling. During the discussion, Mr. Arora explained that in neonatal cases, whole-body donation is the only feasible form of donation, as corneal tissues are not sufficiently developed for transplantation. He further outlined the procedure and emphasized the significance of whole-body donation in advancing medical education and research, allowing the child's legacy to contribute to humanity.
  
  The baby girl, born to Ms. Hansi on January 2, 2026, at the District Hospital, Srinagar, had been diagnosed with Type IV Jejuno-ileal Atresia and was referred to AIIMS Rishikesh on January 4, 2026. She underwent corrective surgery on January 8, 2026, and was under postoperative observation. On January 11, at 01:15 PM, her vital signs became unrecordable, prompting immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) along with an adrenaline bolus. The neonate again became pulseless at 02:20 PM, and despite repeated resuscitative efforts, she could not be revived and was declared dead at 02:32 PM. These clinical details were shared with the family during counselling by Mr. Mahipal.
  
  After thoughtful consideration, the parents, Mr. Sandeep Ram and Ms. Hansi, took the courageous decision to donate their child's body for medical education and research purposes. To support the family during this emotionally overwhelming period, Mr. Gopal Narang, Charter President of Lions Club Rishikesh Devbhoomi and a long-standing eye donation activist, also joined Mr. Arora in providing emotional support and ensuring that the entire process was carried out with dignity, sensitivity, and respect.
  
  Following the family's consent, Mr. Arora coordinated with Dr. Mukesh Singla, Head of the Department of Anatomy at AIIMS Rishikesh, to complete all necessary formalities. Dr. Singla entrusted the case to Dr. Rashmi Malhotra, Professor, Department of Anatomy, for further coordination. The neonate's body was subsequently handed over respectfully for academic purposes.
  
  The family was assured that their child's body would be preserved in the Department of Anatomy at AIIMS Rishikesh and would play a vital role in the training of future medical professionals. In recognition of this selfless and noble act, teams from AIIMS Rishikesh, MOHAN Foundation, and Lions Club Rishikesh honoured the family with a certificate in recognition of their humanitarian contribution.
  
  This act of whole-body donation, performed amid profound grief, stands as a powerful testament to compassion, courage, and the enduring impact of altruism, transforming personal loss into a lasting contribution to medical science and education.
  
  Media Coverage: https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Jan/13/grief-turns-into-hope-as-parents-donate-body-of-infant-for-medical-education-in-rishikesh
  
  https://www.nityasamacharuk.com/a-couple-from-chamoli-donated-the-body-of-their-9-day-old-daughter-to-aiims-they-displayed-indomitable-courage/
  
  https://devbhumijknews.in/?p=16629
  
  https://spasht-express.blogspot.com/2026/01/11-2026.html