AIIMS Bhubaneswar has successfully facilitated multiorgan transplantation from Odisha’s youngest organ donor, a 16-month-old boy named Master Janmesh Lenka.
This extraordinary event marks a significant achievement in the field of organ transplantation and sets a precedent for promoting awareness about pediatric organ donation in India.
In a deeply emotional and inspiring moment, the parents of Master Janmesh Lenka made the courageous decision to donate their child’s organs, turning their personal tragedy into an opportunity to save lives. Janmesh was admitted to the Pediatric Department of AIIMS Bhubaneswar on February 12, 2025, after suffering from foreign body aspiration and choking. Despite the intensive care team’s relentless efforts to stabilize him, he was declared brain dead on March 1, 2025.
Recognizing the potential to give the gift of life to others, the medical team at AIIMS Bhubaneswar counseled the grieving parents about organ donation. With immense strength and compassion, they consented, allowing their child’s organs to be used for life-saving transplants.
The liver was successfully retrieved by the gastro-surgery team led by Dr. Brahmadutt Patnaik and transported to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi. There, it was transplanted into a child suffering from end-stage liver failure. Additionally, the kidneys were retrieved and transplanted en-bloc into a single adolescent patient at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. This complex surgical procedure was successfully performed under the leadership of Dr. Prasant Nayak from the Urology Department.
This case is historically significant as Janmesh became the youngest organ donor in the state of Odisha. It also marks only the second instance of en-bloc kidney transplantation in the state, a highly specialized surgical approach where both kidneys from a pediatric donor are transplanted together into a single recipient.
Prof. Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, the Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, commended the transplant coordination team and medical professionals involved, highlighting their relentless efforts in ensuring the successful execution of the organ retrieval and transplantation process. He extended heartfelt gratitude to the parents for their extraordinary generosity, acknowledging their selfless decision in a moment of profound grief.
The story of Master Janmesh Lenka and his parents’ decision serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of organ donation, especially in pediatric cases. Their noble act has not only saved lives but has also set a precedent for promoting awareness about pediatric organ donation in India.
This incident underscores the importance of public awareness, timely consent, and medical coordination in ensuring that organs from brain-dead patients can be used to give new life to those in need. AIIMS Bhubaneswar continues to take significant strides in organ transplantation, paving the way for better healthcare and saving countless lives through the gift of life.
In the face of unbearable loss, the decision made by Janmesh’s parents stands as a testament to human kindness and resilience. Their selflessness has illuminated a path of hope, awareness, and life-saving potential for others, making a lasting impact on the medical community and society at large.
