Surat : In a testament to the power of hope amidst unthinkable grief, a 20-month-old boy named Riyansh Gajjar has become a beacon of life for five other children in desperate need of organ transplants in Surat. Declared brain dead after a tragic fall, Riyansh’s family, guided by the Surat-based Donate Life NGO, made the selfless decision to donate his vital organs, igniting a chain reaction of hope across two states.
“Losing Riyansh was the most unbearable pain,” shared Yash Gajjar, Riyansh’s father, who works as an executive in the home loan department of HDFC Bank. “But when Donate Life explained how Riyansh could live on through others, we knew it was the right thing to do. He may be gone, but his spirit will live on, giving children a second chance.”
Riyansh’s fall from his home balcony on December 28th left him with severe head injuries. Despite valiant efforts by doctors at a private Surat hospital, the little boy slipped into brain death on January 1st. In the darkest hour, Donate Life stepped in, offering solace and guidance to Riyansh’s grieving family.
“A conversation about organ donation can be difficult, especially in the face of such immense loss,” acknowledged Nilesh Mandlewala, Director of Donate Life. “But Riyansh’s parents, Yash and his wife, showed incredible courage and compassion. They understood that in letting go, they were giving others a chance to hold on.”
And so, amidst the tears and heartbreak, a remarkable journey began. Riyansh’s two kidneys were transported to the Institute of Kidney Diseases & Research Centre (IKDRC) in Ahmedabad, bridging a distance of 233 kilometers. But for his liver, destined for Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, a historic first unfolded.
Riyansh’s corneas were donated to the Surat-based Lok Drashti Eye bank.
A “green corridor” – a dedicated pathway with cleared traffic signals and police escorts – was created for the first time between Surat and Mumbai, a 281-kilometer stretch traversed in record time. This life-giving relay race ensured Riyansh’s liver reached its recipient within the crucial window for transplantation.
“Riyansh’s story has touched hearts across the city and beyond. His tiny hands, though stilled, have reached out to five others, offering them a chance to laugh, play, and grow up, just as he once did. In his passing, Riyansh has become a symbol of hope, a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, the human spirit can find the strength to give life” said Mandlewala.
