Man gives kidney, wants money to save son

Man gives kidney, wants money to save son
Aditya Dev, TNN, Apr 10, 2010, 06.05am IST
The Times of India

CHANDIGARH: His fight to save his son Jagdev's life has put Harpal Singh, 60, a resident of Sangrur district, through many hardships. After both kidneys of the 20-year-old patient failed, the father donated one of his own in order to give him some more years. Harpal said he did so in spite of his relatives telling him to let his son die.

Jagdev has been suffering from retroperitoneal fibrosis since the age of five. He had undergone a surgery in 1996 where one of his kidneys was removed.

In 2010, Jagdev's remaining kidney stopped functioning and he had to be put on dialysis. He was brought to PGI, where he was advised to undergo renal transplant.

He was operated upon in February to be given Harpal's kidney and has been admitted in PGI since then.

Harpal says, "Even today, my relatives say I made a mistake. But I love my son and cannot live without him."

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he added that none of his relatives had come to PGI to help them financially or otherwise. Harpal and his daughter
are handling all the work.

But their problems are far from over as Jagdev has been diagnosed with organ rejection and needs treatment. Rs 1 lakh are needed for the injections he must be given immediately and thereafter, he would need Rs 20,000 per month for other medication.

Harpal added, "They have told me he would not live. But he survived the last 15 years. My son is a fighter and I know he would pass all the ordeals of life."

Jagdev is a first-year student at a technical institute in Sunam. Harpal had mortgaged his land and sold his house to get the Rs 10 lakh needed for Jagdev's treatment.

Around Rs 4 lakh were spent for the renal transplant alone. Now, he just does not have any resources and needs financial help from some good Samaritans.

Dr Anuradha Jatana of Poor Patients' Assistance Cell, PGI, said, "Every person has a right to live. No one should be denied treatment and left to die for financial reasons. However, this is exactly what Harpal's relatives wanted him to do, which makes this a very sad affair."

Those interested in providing the finances can contact Poor Patients' Assistance Cell, Nehru Hospital, PGI, at 9914208556 or 0172-2756006. Donations can also be made through cheque or draft in the name of Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Donors should mention their name, postal address and phone number along with patients' name on a separate piece of paper.

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