10-month-old Aalin Sherin laid to rest with state honours after becoming Kerala’s youngest organ donor

Kerala bid an emotional farewell to 10-month-old Aalin Sherin Abraham, who became the state’s youngest organ donor after her parents consented following her brain death. She was laid to rest with state honours at Mallappally on Sunday.

Aalin Sherin was critically injured in a road accident on February 5 while travelling with her mother and maternal grandparents at Pallam near Kottayam on the MC Road. Despite intensive medical care, doctors confirmed her brain death on February 12. She was the daughter of Arun Abraham and Sherin Ann John of Mallappally, Pathanamthitta district.

With her parents’ consent, the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) coordinated the donation. Her heart valve was sent to the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; her liver to KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram; and her kidneys to the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Her eyes were donated to an eye bank.

State honours and tributes

Industries Minister P Rajeev said the government accorded state honours to the infant as a mark of respect. “The government views with deep respect the decision taken by the parents, who upheld the noble example of organ donation despite their profound grief,” he said. Ministers V N Vasavan, Saji Cherian, Roshy Augustine, and Congress leader P C Vishnunadh, MLA, paid homage at her residence, along with a family member of one of the organ recipients.

Funeral procession and ceremony

The funeral procession moved to St Thomas CSI Church, Nedungadappally, Kottayam district. Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Kerala Health Minister Veena George attended the ceremony. Gopi said the child would continue to live through others following her organ donation and highlighted similar acts in New Delhi and Odisha.

The church ceremony began at 3.30 pm and concluded by 4.45 pm. State honours were accorded by police personnel before her final rites were performed at the cemetery around 5 pm.

(With inputs from PTI)