Parents donate eyes of 9-month-old son

RAJKOT: Setting an example for others to emulate, parents of a nine-month-old boy, who died of a congenital disease, have come forward to donate his eyes in Porbandar. Jalpesh and Dimple Unadkat donated the eyes of their beloved son Shivam on Wednesday evening after his death.
The parents were convinced to do so by Dimple's cousin Sachin, who said that their child's eyes will help someone regain vision and they could always remember him.
Jalpesh , a whole-seller of snacks in Porbandar, said Shivam was their first child and it was a great loss to his family. "We decided to donate his eyes to help others gain vision and see the light,'' he said.
Dr Nitin Popat, who runs Porbandar Nature Club that is working to promote eye donations in Porbandar district, collected the eyes and sent them to the eye bank in Rajkot Medical College.
"This was the first eye donation from a child since we began eye collections,'' Dr Popat said. His club members have been persuading people to donate eyes for the last three years in Porbandar and till now they have collected eyeballs of 555 people.
"Jalpesh and Dimple's decision will inspire others as many people believe that only adults can donate their eyes. This is not true. Children's eyes are also accepted,'' Dr Popat said.