Kavita Karkare's children donate her organs

Overcoming their grief, children of Kavita Karkare, wife of former Maharashtra anti-terror squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare who died fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, gave consent to donate her organs so that five more people can get a new lease of life.

Kavita, 57, suffered brain haemorrhage and was rushed to PD Hinduja Hospital at Mahim on Saturday by her son Akash, 22, said sources. She eventually slipped into a coma resulting from severe brain damage. On Sunday evening, doctors declared Kavita brain dead.

"She had severe brain damage due to haemorrhage. She was kept on ventilator but was not responding to treatment. We declared her brain dead on Sunday. After counselling, her son consented to organ donation," said a doctor.

The hospital authorities, however, had to wait for Kavita's daughters - Jui Navare and Sayali - who stay abroad and reached the hospital on Monday morning. The sisters promptly supported their brother's decision for organ donation and consent procedure was completed by afternoon.

According to the hospital, the decision has given new lease of life to two end-stage kidney patients and one end-stage liver patient. Kavita's children also decided to donate their mother's eyes.

With this cadaver donation, Mumbai's total cadaver donation for the year touches 30 resulting in 57 kidney donations and 27 liver donations.

Cadaveric organ donors in 2014 so far: 30 donors, resulting in 57 kidney donations and 27 liver donations.

This is the highest number of donations in Mumbai so far, with the previous best of 26 in 2012

In 2013, Mumbai saw 21 cadaver donations where 36 kidneys and 19 livers were donated.