In a life-saving operation that underscores Kerala’s advancing medical capabilities, doctors at Lisie Hospital successfully transplanted the heart of Issac George, a 33-year-old brain-dead accident victim, into a patient suffering from Kawasaki disease. The organ was transported in a highly coordinated mission, starting from KIMSHEALTH Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram and arriving at Lisie Hospital within critical time limits, thanks to the joint efforts of the Kerala police, health authorities, and multiple medical teams.
Issac George was tragically involved in an accident on September 6 when a speeding bike hit him as he tried to cross the road. After three days of intensive treatment, he was declared brain dead on September 10. Demonstrating profound altruism, Issac’s family consented to organ donation, stating, “We believe that by giving life to another person, he lives.” In addition to the heart, the family donated his kidneys, liver, and corneas.
The recipient, identified through Kerala’s Mrithasanjeevani organ transplant programme, was critically ill due to Kawasaki disease—a condition that severely affects coronary arteries and the heart. The government-backed programme, launched in 2012, prioritizes vulnerable patients and aims to provide them access to timely organ transplants, giving them a chance at a healthy life.
On the day of the operation, the heart was airlifted to Kochi and received at the Bolgatty Grand Hyatt helipad at 1:30 pm. From there, it was transported to Lisie Hospital in just four minutes over a distance of 5 kilometers, a feat made possible by special police escort. Dr. Jacob Abraham, Head of Cardiac Anaesthesia at Lisie Hospital, praised the collaboration, stating, “The success of a brain death transplant is a well-coordinated effort involving donor and recipient hospitals, government agencies, and the Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (KNOS).”
Adding to Issac’s legacy, his family’s decision has been widely lauded. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), where Issac was a former Unit president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), expressed solidarity with the family. CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan wrote on Instagram, “Issac has become a role model even at the time of his death.”
The recipient is currently under close medical observation following the successful transplant, while Issac’s act of generosity stands as a powerful testament to the importance of organ donation in India’s evolving healthcare landscape.
