Kerala's third heart transplantation successfully completed

KOCHI: Thursday was a day of rebirth for Shinto (23), even as Kerala witnessed the third successful heart transplantation, thanks to two persons—Kumari Jose (59) and Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram.

Now, Shinto, son of Kuriakose from Mulanthuruthi, lives with the heart of Kumari Jose, wife of Jose from Aluva, who passed away on Thursday due to stroke at Amrutha Hospital here.

Kumari’s heart was placed in Shinto, who was admitted at Ernakulam Lisie Hospital, early morning on Thursday. This is the first time in the history of medical Kerala that the heart of a person at a hospital was transplanted in another patient at another hospital.

And the key person behind the successful surgery is none other than Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram who led the first two heart transplantation surgeries in the state.

Shinto was hopelessly staying at Lisie Hospital for months since a suitable heart was unavailable. Only a heart transplantation surgery could save Shinto.

It was Fr. Varghese Asin Thaipparambu who indirectly became the saviour of Shinto. Pavin, son of Kumari, telephoned Varghese to inform his mother’s death. Varghese has been the Assistant Director of Lisie Hospital and so he put forward the idea of organ donation to which Kumari’s relatives answered in the affirmative.

Immediate arrangements were made then, and a surgery was carried out by Dr. Jose Chacko to remove Kumari’s heart at 9 pm, which was completed at 1.30 am. With the police’s aid, the heart was brought to Lisie Hopital, where Shinto was admitted. The surgery on Shinto was done within half an hour.

Now, Kumari’s heart throbs in Shinto’s chest. Shinto came back to life. Relatives of Kumari also know very well that Kumari has not left them. Just because “heart” always binds people.