Asha Bhootra and Shantidevi

AHMEDABAD: It was a long battle of over a decade for Asha Bhootra, 37, with kidney-related complications. After multiple health issues, the Surat-based family associated with textile trade got to know that the mother of one had right kidney shrinking. Gradually, her left kidney also started malfunctioning as the only option left after renal failure was kidney transplant.

Dr Manoj Gumber, a nephrologist and transplant physician with a city-based hospital, said that in this case, the Bhootra’s husband and father were diabetics and her mother was 69 years of age. “Dialysis was an option but it would not have been a solution in long run and thus the search for a perfect donor ended with her mother-in-law Shantidevi, 65,” he said, adding that the donations by mother-in-laws are still unusual, if not rare.

It was a long process for Bhootra family to register Shantidevi, a native of Rajasthan , as a donor but after three months, the transplant took place in June at Ahmedabad. “There was no doubt in my mind when I volunteered for the donation that it would be me who would give my daughter a new lease of life. After all, she is also a mother and how could I not intervene when I could help?” asks Shantidevi.

Asha Bhootra returned to Surat on Saturday after post-surgery treatment. Dr Gumber said that hundreds of patients like her are battling on a daily basis. “More awareness about cadaver donations can reduce the heavy reliance on live donations,” he said.

