The following piece, a real life story, was published in the Hindustan Times of 31.03.09 :

YOUNGEST CADAVER DONOR IN THE COUNTRY.
“We’ll Keep Her Soul Alive.”
New Delhi, March 30, 2009.

SIXTEEN -AND- HALF-MONTH-OLD Abhilasha Rahurika became the youngest cadaver donor in the country when her parents agreed to donate her organs after she died of liver failure.

What made the donation truly touching was that Abhilasha’s parents had brought her to Delhi from Bhopal looking for a liver donor, but ended up donating her organs.They donated her kidneys and corneas, but doctors could not implant her heart as they could not find a matching recipient. In India, parents of only five children under two years have donated organs before. Abhilasha,who was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital for a liver transplant in early February, was declared brain dead on Feb 28th. She could not undergo a liver transplant because she had an underlying neurological condition— Hydrocephalus or abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities of the brain — that wouldn’t have allowed her to survive the surgery.

“It’s commendable how easily her parents took such a courageous and a noble step which will surely give a new ray of hope to many patients”, said Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo group of hospitals. “We couldn’t save her but if through her we manage to save even one life, we’ll keep her soul alive forever,” said Rajendra Rahurikar, Abhilasha’s father, a Bhopal-based businessman.
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I was greatly inspired and motivated by what I read and so I had mailed the news item to Dr Pooja.She was also greatly moved and inspired by it and wrote a beautiful poem on the subjct matter.I reproduce the same here-below alongwith all the feedback and responses the poem and the poetess got from the readers. It will be observed that such inspiring stories touch many hearts alike.I feel happy for having inspired Dr Pooja and am also highly pleased to see the amount of positive feedback her poem has generated:
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Poetry
By Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Apr 17, 2009
Bijapur, pooza_29@yahoo.com

She is alive

The ambulance raced my baby
to the nearest hospital,
a race against time,
on my lap, crying she laid,
my hands clammy and lips quivering.

For the first time, I felt,
I may not race to the end of the road.
Her multiple organ failure,
left me with no questions,
but only answers.

The doctor left us alone saying,
“I am very sorry, she is no more,
The body is in the cadaver room”.
I told my wife, who was crying helplessly,
“Our child needs a bit of peace and rest”.

I went to the cadaver room,
where my baby was resting in peace.
I saw a man, unknown,
crying alone in the cadaver room.

I went close to him,
He said, “My wife breathed her last
in this hospital today.
I don’t know where is she here,
I am blind “.

I then heard my baby cry,
calling me to see her,
I felt her breath and presence,
I then donated her eyes
to that blind man,
and other organs to the needy.
Her heart alone din’t match
with any recepient,
Because it was beating in me.
———
Seshu Sir, Thank you. She is very much alive in our hearts, in her parents and all the recipients of her organs. Thank you. Take care. Best wishes.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 19, 2009

Moving write, Pooja. Yes, truly she lives on.

Seshu Chamarty, Hyderabad
Apr 19, 2009

Lina Madam, Thank you very much. This real incident, has touched everyone’s heart. Let us help the needy and see them smile again. Best wishes.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 19, 2009

Asha Madam, I am very happy to read your response to my poem. Her parents really deserve a standing ovation. They made a few breathe again by donating her organs, and the baby is alive in them. Thank you once again. Best regards.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 19, 2009

Amar Sir, Thank you very much. It gives me immense pleasure to read your response. It is a very heart touching incident and I take this opportunity to thank the child’s parents for having taken this bold step and see her alive in all the recipients of her organs. Best wishes.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 19, 2009

Sathya Sir, The moment I wrote the poem and read it again, my eyes were also flooded with tears. Thank you for appreciating my sensitive poem. Best wishes.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 19, 2009

Dear Pooja, A very sad poem and I especially like the strong ending. Nice composition. Warm regards,

Lina Mistry/Tandel, Varginia, USA
Apr 19, 2009

Very nice poem. The poem touched my heart and I loved the very last line. The way you rendered a noble message is absolutely outstanding. Best wishes

Asha Sunil, UK
Apr 18, 2009

A poem generally weaves a world of imagination out of pangs of reality. But, if a peom directly depicts pangs of reality, it becomes sublime. That is what your poem is. Hats off.

Amar Nath Singh, New Delhi
Apr 18, 2009

Dr.Poojaji, This is a very touching story. You poem has done full justice to the story. Excellent narration. With best regards,

Sathya, Nelllore
Apr 18, 2009

Varanasi Sir, Thank you very much. I am delighted. Best wishes.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 18,/2009

Kirti Sir, I am very happy to know that you will be sharing my poem with your friends and relatives. I am sure they will feel proud to know the true story. My heartfelt thanks to you. Best regards.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 18, 2009

Atreya Sir, Your response always come with a highly nutritious energy drink and I feel very strong. Thank you very much Sir. Best wishes.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 18, 2009

Satyananda Sir,
Thank you very much for appreciating my work. There are very few who like to donate the organs after death. Otherwise most of the people give more importance to the last rituals and many other issues. A few understand that they help a few live for a few more years by donating them their organs. Here the step taken by the child’s father is commendable. Your encouragement has boosted my energy. Best regards.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 18, 2009

Jitoo Uncle, The credit goes to one and the only Singh is King uncle, Jitoo Uncle. It was you who sent me this article and inspired me write a poem. Thank you very much for encouraging me write on this real story. Best wishes. Have a nice day.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 18, 2009

A very touching narration and creation. Best wishes

Varanasi Ramabrahmam, Pondicherry
Apr 17, 2009

Dear Dr. Pooja, Of late I have not read such a nice piece of poetry. It has a heart beat in it! I shall treasure it and also share it with my friends and relatives. Feeling good to know you. Best regards

Dr Kirti Swarop Rawat, Indore
Apr 17, 2009

Dear Dr Pooja, A heart-searing and tenderly written poem with a noble message…of the importance of donation of one’s organs. The concluding lines bear out the hallmark of a good poetry and poetic sensitivity.

Her heart alone didn’t match

with any recipient,

Because it was beating in me.

Best wishes.

U Atreya Sarma, Secunderabad-56
Apr 17, 2009

Dr Pooja,

The poem has brought tears to my eyes. A very poignant narration of a father who carries his daughter on his lap to the Hospital where she breathes her last. With the unexpected introduction of the weeping Blind man’s inability to find the body of his departed wife and the girl’s father’s instant decision to donate his daughter’s eyes to him and the remaining organs to others, the Poem has in fact given me the feeling of reading a short story of O’Henry with a great twist. A great humanitarian social message! Thanks a lot for the wonderful work. Regards.

Ch J Satyananda Kumar, Visakhapatnam
Apr 17, 2009

Dear Pooja, A very fine and touching piece of poetry. Great !! I think you can reveal the real life story now to the readers. So, dear MUSE-icians, here is the original story which inspired Dr Pooja (Please see the footnote of the poem).

J S Broca, New Delhi
Apr 17, 2009

Respected Mallick Sir,
Her father am sure would be meeting the recipients of her organs very often. He can see her and feel her in them. And her heart, it seems din’t match with any recipient and it’s beating in him. Thank you for wishing my modem a speedy recovery. The old modem was discharged after 10 long days leaving a new one on my table. Thank you. Have a great day.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 17, 2009

Dear Anupam,
I am very happy to read the first response to my poem from overseas. Thank you very much. I am inspired by a true story. The story will be shared with all the readers in a short while. Being a doctor, I have seen people going through all these emotions in the hospital and it’s hard to accept. I feel that pain. I have known from Mallick Sir, that you are of my age, a Ph. D. and teach English literature. So no Poojaji, only Pooja. You are my good friend. Have a great day. Best wishes.

Dr Pooja G Bhuyar, Bijapur
Apr 17, 2009

Yes, Pooja. She is alive, so is your intense sensibility (and so is your modem too!) Good to see you after a big break. Good composition exhibiting a rational approach on the face of adversity. Love

Kumarendra Mallick, Hyderabad
Apr 17, 2009

Pooja ji, a very poignant and touching composition and yet expressing the beautiful sentiment of organ donation. Warmest appreciation

Anupamdeep Bindra, Mercedes, Texas
Apr 17, 2009

Inspiration:
(inspired by Ajit Singh’s article)

The common dictionary meaning of inspiration is: “a supposed force or influence on poets,artists,musicians etc stimulating creativity,ideas etc ” To inspire also means to stimulate or arouse a person to creative activity or moral fervour.” Motivation could be a result of inspiration.To motivate means to supply a motive to cause a person to act in a particular way.In other words it means to stimulate the interest of a person.

I have been many a times inspired by reading something in some book or some magazine or some news paper item. It motivates me to react to what I have read. This has helped me to be creative and has often enabled me to win hearts of like minded persons. So when I come across something that stirs me, I make it a point to copy it out and send it to my friends,collegues,well wishers for their perusal and reaction.

The usual outcome of the above exercise is : out of 10 around 6 don’t respond at all, around 2 are stirred but don’t know how to put their reactions on paper since words fail them ,1 wishes to re-act but he has no time as he is usually “very busy”.Mostly it is just 1 out of 10 who reacts and sends me his reaction. I feel happy to note that at least that one person has responded to my effort. I am always indebted to that person since he has taken the trouble of reacting and responding and giving me a new perspective to the matter he has read. Such an exchange of views broadens my vision.

Here is a very recent example. I am copying down an interesting article I read a few days ago :
______________________________________________________________
SOUL CURRY :
” GOOD MORNING , WORLD.”
By Ajit Singh
(from TIMES OF INDIA, Apr 12, 2009)

Walking is a passion and part of my physical fitness regimen ever since I retired from the IAF a few months ago.Starting early, when most of the world is asleep and the sky still dark. And finishing, when daylight announces the arrival of a new day with the chirping of sparrows in the bougainvillea lining the jogging path in our housing society.Sharing my enthusiasm is an 87-year-old Sikh octogenarian with a flowing white beard, dressed in a blue tracksuit and white turban. He unfailingly carries a small bag slung across his shoulder. I suspect the bag contains life-saving drugs prescribed to him. He walks haltingly with the help of his walking stick continuously reciting shabads from the Granth Sahib. I never fail to bow my head, fold my hands in reverence and wish him ‘Sat Sri Akal’. Perhaps, it’s his demeanour that draws respect from one and all. Often, he would extend his hand to give me a sweet which he stated was prasad. The other day, as is wont, we met again. I gave him the usual salutations and looked up to acknowledge his response. I noticed something different in his appearance. His face had an aura about it.A unique smile played on his lips. He looked vibrant and certainly gung-ho. There was an unusual spring in his step! I wondered, “What’s with the grand old man?” He was heading straight for me, hand outstretched. I guess I was looking at him quizzically and he noticed it. He walked towards me with a sweet in his hand and ever so shyly, but with great alacrity, announced ‘Aaj mera birthday hai’. For a long moment, I felt time stand still. I couldn’t comprehend the purport of his innocuous statement! Suddenly, I realised he expected a response from me. I took his hand and blurted out — ‘Happy Birthday. God bless you’. He smiled effervescently and resumed his walk.I was left with my thoughts. Here was this octogenarian, happy and celebrating the fact that he had lived and enjoyed another year of life. While most of us, if not all, are saddened by getting older. In celebrating his birthday, he was celebrating life itself. Something that we take for granted. His whole being seem to convey the spirit of living life and enjoying it to the fullest, replete with humble gratitude to the Almighty for each passing day. Later, I was to learn that this gentleman was a retired Army captain. His only son, a pilot in the IAF, was killed in a MIG-21 crash. The old man couldn’t even pay his last respects to his son since his body was not recovered.

(Soul Curry is a column where we invite our readers to share their soul-stirring experiences)

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I am about to turn 60 shortly. I felt so inspired and motivated by this story of the octogenarian who has shown me how to live life. The story is sad and poignant.Yet,the best part is that he believed in the Supreme Being’s will and stood the test of time with never a worry on his face or showing his anger at Him for being so cruel to him.

We need to learn a lesson to live every moment of our lives as it comes. Lets learn to live life king size , come what may ! I know it sounds difficult,but making an effort is not difficult. Friends, fellow Muse-icians,do give it a thought.Your valuable feedback is welcome.

Yes, I had mailed this piece to some friends and so far only our dear Dr Pooja has reacted by penning a poem on being inspired by the piece.She will be posting it shortly .Wait, watch,read,re-act… Thanks dear Pooja !!

Bye for now !