Heart Transplant Performed on 13-Year-Old Girl in Maharashtra, Marking 85th Successful Organ Donation in the Region
In a heartwarming development, Khansa Rahim Sayyed, a 13-year-old girl from Jalna, Maharashtra, underwent a successful heart transplant at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, on July 18, 2025. This groundbreaking surgery was made possible after the family of a 25-year-old brain-dead patient consented to organ donation, marking Maharashtra's 85th organ donation of the year.
Khansa had been battling Dilated Cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the heart to enlarge and weaken. Diagnosed in January 2025, she experienced months of fatigue, breathlessness, poor appetite, and repeated hospitalizations. Her symptoms forced her to stop attending school and limited her ability to carry out daily activities.
Dr. Snehal Kulkarni, Director of Pediatric Cardiology at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, monitored Khansa's condition through the hospital's Jalna OPD. Despite receiving optimized medical treatment under Dr. Kulkarni, Khansa showed little improvement prior to the transplant.
The pediatric cardiology team at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, performed the transplant on Khansa. The donor's heart was transported to Fortis Hospital, Mulund, covering a distance of 140 km in 1 hour and 54 minutes. This swift transportation was crucial for the success of the transplant.
Dr. Vishal Beri, Facility Director of Fortis Hospital Mulund, praised the dedication and expertise of the clinical team. He expressed his gratitude towards the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) and the donor's family for their role in the successful transplant.
Khansa's mother, Rubina Sayyed, stated that her daughter fell sick after attending the Independence Day parade in 2024, and they initially thought it was just exhaustion. The seven-month wait for a donor was filled with anxiety and fear.
Maharashtra has been actively working to improve organ donation rates, but the overall number of deceased organ donors remains low, which impacts children with end-stage heart failure and other critical conditions that require transplants. As of mid-2025, Maharashtra observed 85 organ donations statewide, including life-saving heart transplants for children, such as Khansa's case.
Despite India having one of the highest numbers of total organ transplants globally, the deceased donor rate remains under 1 per million population, far below countries like Spain. This shortage prolongs waiting times for children needing heart transplants, as adult donors typically supply most organs.
The successful heart transplant on Khansa is a testament to the life-changing impact of organ donation. Her recovery is a beacon of hope for many families facing similar challenges. As Maharashtra's efforts show promise, it is crucial to expand these initiatives further to meet the needs of children with end-stage heart failure, who depend heavily on timely heart transplants for survival.
- The successful heart transplant on Khansa took place at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, India, a crucial step towards addressing chronic diseases like cardiovascular health issues.
- Mumbai news outlets reported on the organ donation that enabled Khansa's surgery, highlighting the impact of therapies and treatments on medical-conditions such as Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
- With the successful transplant, Khansa can now focus on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and even mental-health therapies to ensure her overall well-being.
- The incident emphasizes the importance of awareness and consent for organ donation, a practice that could significantly reduce waiting times for children with critical conditions like Khansa, waiting for life-saving heart transplants.
- India, with its growing focus on improving organ donation rates, can learn from other countries, such as Spain, that have higher deceased donor rates, to meet the increasing demands for heart transplants in the face of chronic diseases.
- The successful heart transplant surgery on Khansa in Mumbai, inspires hope for families dealing with similar medical-conditions, urging more communities to advocate for therapies, treatments, and organ donation practices as means to combat chronic diseases like cardiovascular health problems.
