Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid an emotional tribute to Kerala’s youngest organ donor, 10-month-old Aalin Sherin Abraham, during the 131st episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, saying her parents’ decision to donate her organs amid profound grief had filled the nation with respect.
Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister said, “There is no greater sorrow for any parent than losing one’s own child. The pain of losing a very young child is deeper. Just a few days ago, we lost Aalin Sherin Abraham, a little innocent girl from Kerala. She left this world at the age of just 10 months. Imagine, she had a whole life ahead of her, which abruptly ended. So many dreams and joys remained unfulfilled.”
Aalin, who hailed from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district, suffered severe injuries in a road accident and was later declared brain-dead at a hospital in Kochi. In the midst of unimaginable grief, her parents, Arun Abraham and Sherin, chose to donate her organs, making her the youngest organ donor in Kerala.
“The pain her parents must be undergoing is beyond any expression in words,” PM Modi said. “But even amidst such profound pain, Aalin’s father, Arun Abraham, and mother, Sherin, made a decision that has filled up the heart of every citizen with respect. They decided to donate Aalin’s organs. This single decision reveals the expanse of their thinking and the magnitude of their personality.”
The infant’s liver, kidneys, heart valve and corneas were donated, giving a renewed lease of life to multiple children in need. In a coordinated medical effort, the organs were transported swiftly across hospitals, underscoring the strength of Kerala’s transplant network.
“While on the one hand they grieved the loss of their daughter, on the other they were also filled with a spirit of helping others. They wanted that no family experiences such a fate,” the Prime Minister said. “Aalin Sherin Abraham is no longer with us, but her name has joined the ranks of the nation’s youngest organ donors.”
In Kerala, the child was accorded a Guard of Honour by the state police, and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan attended her funeral, announcing that a proposed state organ transplant unit would be named after her. State Health Minister Veena George also expressed deep appreciation for the family’s gesture, calling it an extraordinary act of humanity.
Highlighting a broader shift in public awareness, PM Modi said, “Friends, awareness about organ donation is steadily rising in India these days. This is helping those who are in need of it. It is also strengthening medical research in the country. Many organizations and individuals are doing extraordinary work in this direction.”
He cited several inspiring examples of organ recipients who have gone on to lead active lives. Referring to Lakshmi Devi from Delhi, he said she undertook a 14-kilometre trek to Kedarnath after a heart transplant. “Her heart was functioning only at 15 percent. Amidst that, she received the heart of a deceased donor. After that, her life transformed completely,” he said.
He also mentioned Gaurang Banerjee from West Bengal, who visited Nathu La at 14,000 feet above sea level after a lung transplant, and Ramdev Singh of Sikar, Rajasthan, who excelled in sports following a kidney transplant.
“You will come across many such inspiring examples. This proves once again that a single noble act can change the lives of countless people. I heartily commend all those who have undertaken such noble deeds,” the Prime Minister said.
(With agency inputs)
