10-month-old accident victim gives new life to five through organ donation in Kerala

Kerala on Sunday accorded state honours to Aalin Sherin Abraham , a 10-month-old infant who became the youngest organ donor in the state , giving a new lease of life to five critically ill children through organ transplantation. Her funeral was held with official and police honours, including a bugle salute and wreath-laying on behalf of the state government.

Aalin suffered severe head injuries in a road accident near Pallam in Kottayam district on February 5 , when the two-wheeler carrying her family was hit by a speeding vehicle, police said. She was rushed to a private hospital in Kochi, where she remained on ventilator support in critical condition for two days. Despite intensive medical care, doctors declared her brain dead on Thursday after mandatory neurological examinations conducted in accordance with the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA).

Following extensive counselling by transplant coordinators and doctors, her parents, Arun Abraham and Sherin Ann John , consented to donate her organs. Hospital authorities said the decision, taken in the midst of unbearable grief, reflected exceptional courage and compassion. “Through their consent, they chose to save other children’s lives despite personal tragedy,” officials noted.

Once brain death was certified, the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) initiated emergency transplant protocols. The organ retrieval surgery was conducted late Thursday night by a multidisciplinary team of paediatric specialists, surgeons, anaesthetists, neurologists and transplant coordinators. The entire process, from certification to transplantation, was completed within hours, demonstrating swift medical coordination.

Police facilitated green corridor arrangements to ensure uninterrupted movement of ambulances carrying the organs to different hospitals across districts. The child’s kidneys and liver segments were transplanted into children suffering from end-stage organ failure in Thiruvananthapuram, while her heart valves were preserved for paediatric cardiac surgery and her corneas were sent to an eye bank for vision restoration procedures.

Doctors confirmed that the organ recipients are stable and responding positively to treatment , with continuous monitoring underway in intensive care units. Senior transplant surgeons said the case highlighted Kerala’s growing capacity for time-critical paediatric organ transplantation and efficient organ transport logistics.

Officials stressed that all procedures were carried out under strict legal and ethical protocols. Brain death was certified by two independent medical boards, written parental consent was obtained, and organ allocation was carried out transparently through the state registry based on medical urgency and compatibility. “No organ donation can take place without full compliance with national transplant law, and this case followed every safeguard,” K-SOTTO authorities said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that Aalin would be bid farewell with official honours , calling her the youngest donor to grant new life to others in Kerala. He said her parents’ decision in the face of unimaginable sorrow symbolised the true spirit of humanity and compassion.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar described the parents’ act as an “extraordinary message to all humanity,” while Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan said the gesture demonstrated moral strength during a moment of personal devastation. Actor Mohanlal also paid tribute, stating that the child would continue to live on through the lives she saved and that her parents had become examples of selfless love.

Kerala remains one of India’s leading states in deceased organ donation. Official data shows that over 1,200 organ transplants have been facilitated through K-SOTTO in the past three years, though paediatric donations remain extremely rare. Thousands of patients continue to wait for kidneys, liver and heart transplants, underscoring the importance of public participation in organ donation programmes.

Health experts said the incident should be seen not only as a tragedy but also as a powerful lesson in saving lives. “One donor can transform multiple futures. Aalin’s gift shows that even in death, hope can be created,” a senior transplant coordinator said.

Aalin Sherin Abraham’s short life has thus become a lasting symbol of compassion, reminding society that humanity can shine brightest in moments of deepest sorrow.