Grief over girl’s death doesn’t stop parents from donating her eyes

Although M.S. Kumar and Nandini, residents of Mavinakere, a village in Bhadravati taluk, were distressed over the demise of their seven-year-old daughter M.K. Monisha due to brain infection, they decided to donate the eyes of their daughter. Their decision has now inspired many other people to voluntarily pledge to donate their eyes.

Monisha, who was studying in first standard at Bhadravati, died of brain infection at Sarji Hospital in Shivamogga on November 12. Dhananjay Sarji, chief medical officer of the hospital, who was treating the girl, told The Hindu , “Her prents were in deep sorrow over the death of their daughter. After consoling them, I suggested them to perpetuate the memory of the girl by donating her eyes. Without a second thought, the parents agreed. Personnel from the eye bank of Sankara Eye Hospital in the city immediately secured two eyes of the girl, which would be donated to some needy persons,” he said.

Mr. Kumar, a farmer and ex-member of Bhadravati Taluk Panchayat, said, “By donating the eyes,, it is possible to eradicate the darkness in others’ lives to a certain extent. Doctors told me that the corneal transplantation will be done for two persons from the eyes of my daughter. Although her death is irreversible, the eye donation has provided some consolation and peace to my family.”

To commemorate Monisha, a programme to create awareness on eye donation was held under the aegis of Sankara Eye Hospital and Round Table India at Sarji Hospital on the Children’s Day. As many as 172 persons, who attended the programme, vouched to donate their eyes.