Kochi: The priest of a Syrian Jacobite Church in Kerala has donated one of his kidneys to an ailing young woman.
The priest’s kidney was harvested and transplanted on 29-year-old Kairunnissa from Thrissur, at the private V P S Lakeshore hospital here Wednesday.
Father Shibu Kuttiparichel, priest of Cheengery St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church in Wayanad district, and also an author, uses money earned from the sale of his books for charitable activities.
The priest donated his kidney to Kairunnissa, who lives with her husband and three-year-old daughter at Akalad, near Chavakad, in Thrissur district, News Today reported.
Kairunnissa was selected as the recipient from those who were registered with the Kidney Federation of India, founded by Fr Davis Chiramel. She was suffering from kidney ailments for the past four years and underwent several rounds of dialysis in the past one-and-a-half years, the hospital management said.
Even as Kairunnissa’s 56-year-old mother, Shereefa, who lives in Kasaragod, was ready to donate one of her kidneys, it was found not “matching,” the hospital said.
Later, Fr Shibu’s blood group was found to be a match for Kairunnissa’s.
Fr Shibu was inspired by Fr Davis Chiramel, founder and chairman, Kidney Federation of India, who himself set an example by donating one of his kidneys.
Both donor and recipient are in good condition, the hospital said. Fr Shibu, who has been shifted to ICU, will be discharged after four days.
Kairunnissa, who is also in the ICU, will remain there for five days and be discharged after a week following medical examination, the hospital said in a release here.