18-year-old liver donor becomes Rajasthan's organ ambassador

JAIPUR: An 18-year-old girl who donated a portion of her liver to her ailing father has been chosen as Rajasthan's brand ambassador of organ transplant.

Rajasthan health minister Rajendra Rathore met Simran Sharma yesterday and was impressed by the girl who donated nearly 65 per cent of her liver to her father suffering from liver cirrhosis, an official said.

The young girl was chosen as the state's brand ambassador of organ transplant by the minister, he said.

The girl informed the minister that her father Rakesh Sharma, suffering from liver cirrhosis was admitted to SMS hospital in Jaipur but was referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi for further evaluation.

He was then taken to Chennai where his liver was tranplanted in September this year, the official said.

The state government has also decided to provide financial assistance to the family who have spent over Rs 67 lakh on the surgery of Sharma who is still undergoing treatment in Chennai, he said.

Simran's parents are working as government doctors at Kanwatia hospital in Shastri nagar here, the official said.