I BELIEVE IN FAIRY TALES

I am often asked what prompted me to take up the cause of organ donation and what makes me continue on this journey.

The answer is stories. Beautiful stories. I have always enjoyed hearing stories since I was very little. Magical fairytales and moving tales of kindness and gentleness.

Organ donation makes me see these heartwarming stories up close. The doctors had not given 44-year old Sanjit Bala much time. He needed a liver desperately or he would not live to see his son’s birthday on 1st January of the following year. And it was already November. The family had given up hope. And then on 17th November a 13-year old girl had a road accident. What could have been too tragic to be told in a fairytale was converted into a story of hope and magic. Sanjit lived on to celebrate his son’s birthday. And the little girl? She lived on too – through so many others whom her organs saved. It was the only thought that saw her parents through their darkest hour; it was their only sustenance.

I am grateful I don’t have to grow up and can continue to believe in fairytales. Kind fairies and brownies and sweet elves do exist. Don’t laugh them off.