Saranda: An elderly woman in a remote village of Bargarh district came forward to donate her dead husband’s eyes, in an act of what is being described as a towering example of large-heartedness in the face of anguish.
Yashoda Bhoi, a resident of Putputpali village under Attabira block of Bargarh district, expressed her willingness to donate the eyes of her deceased husband Anand Bhoi (80) after he died Sunday.
It is learnt that Anand had signed no such declaration that he would donate his eyes after his death and had only expressed his wish to do so, and that the final decision was taken by Yashoda just before Anand’s body was to be taken away for cremation.
Soon as she said she wanted to donate Anand’s eyes, a medical team led by Dr Ashok Khamari of VSS Institute of Medical Science and Research arrived at the village to harvest the corneas. Anand’s body was cremated soon after.
Anand’s younger brother Durllav (60) succumbed to an ailment at VIMSAR Saturday night after being ill for some days. His brother’s death took a toll on Anand and he passed away in the wee hours of Sunday, locals said. “Despite the heartbreak of two deaths in a row in the family, it is exemplary on Yashoda’s part to take such a magnanimous decision to donate her husband’s eyes.
Nobody would have the presence of mind to do such a thing,” said Dhirendra Bhoi, one of Yashoda’s sons-in-law who is associated with Jyoti, an organisation involved in eye donation. Yashoda was present at that time and said she too wanted donate her eyes.
After the death of Anand Sunday, Yashoda recalled the wish of her departed husband and requested the organisation to fulfill the wish. The members of the organisation contacted VIMSAR officials and the team carried out at the job at Anand’s residence. PNN
