Delhi: 80-year-old woman donates kidney to save her son’s life

Delhi: In an extraordinary act of love and resilience, 80-year-old Darshana Jain donated her kidney to her 59-year-old son, Rajesh, giving him a new lease on life at Delhi’s BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital.

Despite concerns about her advanced age, medical evaluations confirmed that Darshana was a suitable donor, paving the way for a successful transplant.

Dr HS Bhatyal, Senior Director and Head of Urology & Renal Transplant at the hospital, led the team that performed the surgery. He said that while elderly donors are rare, this case proves that age alone should not be a deciding factor in organ donation.

“This case highlights both the possibilities of modern medicine and the indomitable spirit of a mother,” Dr Bhatyal said. “Despite her age, the surgery was executed seamlessly. Darshana was discharged on the fourth postoperative day, and Rajesh made a remarkable recovery and was discharged on the sixth day.”

Rajesh, a businessman from Rohini, had been battling end-stage kidney disease for two years and had been on dialysis for the past six months.

“With limited donor options, Rajesh found hope when his mother volunteered to donate her kidney. However, he initially hesitated, fearing for her health and worrying about societal perceptions,” said Dr Bhatyal.

“I was hesitant because of her age. I didn’t want to take her kidney, and I was worried about what people would say,” Rajesh said. “So, I decided not to go ahead with it.”

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But as his health declined, his family convinced him to reconsider. After a thorough medical evaluation, doctors found that, despite her age, Darshana Jain was fit for the procedure.

Dr Bhatyal emphasised the significance of the surgery, stating, “This sets an important precedent in transplant medicine. If a donor is healthy and fully informed, age should not be a barrier.”

Incidentally, the transplant took place ahead of World Kidney Day (March 13), a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the vital role kidneys play in maintaining overall health.

Rajesh, now on the road to recovery, expressed deep gratitude toward his mother. “She gave birth to me once, and now she has given me life again. This is my second birth,” he said.