Kerala priest’s kidney donation inspires 15 priests to follow suit

15 priests, including a bishop and a nun, have donated their kidneys in the state till date.

Kochi:  With Fr Davis Chiramel founding the Kidney Federation of India, Kerala has witnessed a good number of priests and nuns donating organs.

Fr Chiramel was the first priest in the world to donate an organ. He donated his kidney to Thekkemadathil Gopinathan, a poor electrician, in 2009.

15 priests, including a bishop and a nun, have donated their kidneys in the state till date.

Kerala is now the only state in India where hundreds have volunteered to become live kidney donors.The Kidney Federation of India is reportedly getting many calls with people expressing interest to donate organs.

Fr. Chiramel, a Catholic priest has broken all religious traditions and created another first by offering to donate his body for the students of Thrissur Medical College Hospital, after his death.

“I believe paradise is realised when you offer whatever is in your possession while alive, and not when you ensure your body is laid in a nicely built tomb,'' Fr Chiramel told Times of India.

Among those inspired by Fr Chiramel is Mar Jacob Murickan, the auxiliary bishop of Pala diocese, who donated his kidney to a 30-year-old youth Sooraj. Taking a cue from him, a nun of the Catholic Church, Sister Chaitanya has also donated her kidney to a 40-year-old man.

Most of the organ recipients are not Christians though the donors are priests.

Source: The News Minute, Times of India