Minor's heart flown across Kerala to save life

The heart of a 15-year-old boy, who was declared brain-dead, was transported from Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi for organ transplant on Tuesday.

The minor boy, Vishal, was declared dead by doctors on July 18 after he met with a road accident.

According to reports, the minor's heart was airlifted to Lisie Hospital in Kochi and will be transplanted to Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) patient.

PPCM refers to a rare type of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months of giving birth.

A doctor associated with Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (KNOS), Noble, said the liver and kidneys of the minor were also donated.

"This organ donation is happening in medical college Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) of a 15-year old boy who died yesterday after road accident and the organ is basically allocated to the patients who are listed under KNOS (Kerala Network for Organ Sharing) waitlist. So heart is going to Lisie Hospital in Ernakulam, liver to KIMS (Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences) hospital and both the kidneys are allocated to Government Medical College, Trivandrum," said Noble.

The doctor further said despite grief, Vishal's father agreed on donating his organs as it would give new lease of life to someone.

In a similar one-of-a-kind medical procedure in 2015, a heart retrieved from a brain dead patient was airlifted from one state to another to save a life.