Teen Donates Liver, Becomes First Minor Donor

In a remarkable act of love and determination, a 17-year-old from Thrissur, Kerala, donated a portion of her liver to her father, P.G. Pratheesh, who was suffering from severe liver cirrhosis. Facing a critical shortage of time and a failed attempt to find a relative donor, the student pursued the unprecedented donation, leading her to seek and obtain a court order from the Kerala High Court. This allowed the transplant to proceed on February 9, 2023, making her likely the first minor organ donor.

The family initially opposed the idea due to the potential pain and legal restrictions against organ donation by minors. However, her unwavering resolve, coupled with a rigorous medical and psychiatric evaluation, paved the way for the life-saving surgery. Her father, unaware of her legal efforts, expressed his gratitude and surprise at his daughter's bravery.

This extraordinary event underscores the critical need for organ donation, with over 3,261 patients on the waiting list as of January 28, 2025, primarily for kidneys and livers. Recent deceased donor donations, like those of Biljith Biju and Isaac George in 2025, have sparked renewed public interest and pledges, though challenges in donation processes persist.

The article also shares inspiring stories of other recipients and donors, including Akshay Manoj and Anandhu Manoj who received kidney transplants, and Jose Jacob who received a liver from his son Rohit. T.R. Manu, who lost his palms in 2013, became the first in India to receive a hand transplant in 2015, later finding love and becoming a transplant counselor.