Ten-month-old girl becomes Kerala's youngest organ donor, saves four lives
Kochi (PTI) A 10-month-old girl became the youngest organ donor in the state after her parents consented to donate her organs following brain death, officials said on Friday.
According to a statement issued by Amrita Hospital, Aalin Sherin Abraham was critically injured in a road accident on February 5 while travelling with her mother and maternal grandparents at Pallam near Kottayam on the MC Road.
She was the daughter of Arun Abraham and Sherin Ann John, residents of Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district.
The child was first admitted to hospitals in Changanassery, and later in Thiruvalla before being shifted for advanced treatment to Amrita Hospital, Kochi, on February 6, officials said.
Despite intensive medical efforts, doctors confirmed brain death on Thursday afternoon, the statement said.
With the parents’ consent, the organ donation process was coordinated through the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO), officials said.
Following surgery at the hospital on Friday evening, the child’s heart valve was sent to Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; the liver to KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram; and the kidneys to Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, officials said.
The eyes will be donated to the eye bank.
The organs were transported to Thiruvananthapuram by road, with police arranging a smooth passage.
Doctors described the parents’ decision, taken amid profound grief, as a rare and inspiring example of organ donation, the statement added.
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Yenepoya University conducts autism awareness campaign in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The Department of Occupational Therapy at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) conducted a community-based Autism Awareness Campaign at Fiza Mall and Ullal Beach in the city.
The campaign was aimed at promoting awareness, inclusion, and early identification of autism, in line with the global theme, “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value.”
The programme was led by Dr. Dhayanithi K and Dr. Ananya Jana as organising chairpersons, with Dr. Anas, Dr. Amanda S. Phillip, and Dr. Ansu V. David served as organising members.
Students of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programme participated in conducting the campaign.
The event included activities such as flash mobs, street plays, face painting, mehendi, and direct interaction with the public.
These activities focused on highlighting early signs of autism, the need for early intervention, and the importance of inclusion and acceptance of individuals with autism.
The campaign reached around 300 to 500 members of the public. It also provided students with practical exposure to community-based rehabilitation and public health education.
As part of the initiative, QR-based digital resources were introduced to help the public access reliable information on autism.
“Awareness is the first step towards inclusion, and early intervention can significantly improve outcomes,” the organising team said.
The department thanked the university for its support in organising the campaign. It also acknowledged the cooperation of the management of Fiza Mall and the Ullal Beach Police Department in facilitating the event.
