Meet some of the TRIOMPH Heroes

I was fumbling with my prosthetic hand, trying unsuccessfully to brush my teeth. After dropping my brush for the ninth time in my failed attempts with my unwieldy prosthetic arms, I cried out in frustration, “It would have been better if I had died in the bus accident.” I could see the hurt and pain on my mother’s face hearing my bitter remark but all she quietly said was, “Being alive is truly a blessing and honestly, I’ll always be grateful to see my daughter alive, despite the fact that she lost both her forearms in the accident.”

My mother has an unparalleled sense of optimism and it was this very optimism of hers that made me believe in the possibility that one day I will get a bilateral hand transplant and brush my teeth without dropping my brush umpteen number of times. I decided to undergo hand transplant as my prosthetic hands were a huge disappointment and I could not picture myself using them for the rest of my life.

Almost one year after the accident, I finally underwent a bilateral above elbow hand transplantation. Even though I was the first female in the world to receive male hands, I had no apprehensions at all, as all I wanted was to have hands again, to be independent again and to feel complete again. Yes, I had to undergo intensive rehabilitation to gain functionality in my new hands and I had to make the commitment of taking immunosuppressants for the rest of my life but today it all feels worth it.

To be honest, there have been a few instances during therapy when I used to feel dejected and demotivated when I could not get the desired results. In retrospect, those were the days that challenged me and pushed me to work harder. Those were the times that helped me realise how resilient I am.

It has been three years since I received the gift of new arms. Today, I not only can brush my teeth without any fiascos, I am able to do most of my day to day activities without anybody’s help. I can bathe, dress myself, eat, cook and I have written all my semester exams by myself. In fact, my handwriting matches my previous handwriting. This clearly shows that our body can tolerate almost anything, it is the mind that we have to convince.

Having a transplant can truly be a life changing experience. Personally, it has taught me patience, courage, determination and resilience. All of this has been possible due to the donation of those hands by a family that was brave at the time of their loss and could look beyond their grief to help someone else. This has given me a second shot at life.

Seeing my hands for the first time after the surgery is the best moment I’ve ever experienced in the 22 years of my life. Yes, undergoing a transplant is messy, complicated, and frustrating but the post-transplant experience is amazing, wonderful and above everything else it feels epic as I get to see my miracle every day.

My tryst with kidney disease began in 2001 when I was diagnosed with MPGN (Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis). Having completed an MBA in marketing from one of the top institutes in Mumbai, I had risen quickly to an important role in my organization. I lost this job overnight, in 2002 after I started dialysis.

I then decided to start my own advertising agency, which ran well for 3-4 years. Due to some erroneous business decisions, it ran into losses and I had to start from scratch. I joined a Digital Agency at a beginner level as that was the best job that came my way. I worked hard and won accolades for the work. I soon rose to be in the strategy function and started reporting directly to the MD of the company.

I managed all this while on late night dialysis, after putting in a full day’s work. Looking back, despite the constraints, one might say, I did well and bagged many prestigious accounts for my organisation. My work at the company has won a few international awards in Digital and Internet Marketing.

For me, being surrounded by nature and going on hiking were always a passion. In 2008 I founded V Hikerz which is presently one of the more active hiking groups in Mumbai, specializing in the Sahyadris. Photography was the other passion, which I pursued and have been very well appreciated for.

By 2013, I had hands on experience in all areas of Digital Marketing Strategy and was well known in the industry. I then decided to venture out by myself and started consulting smaller and mid-sized corporates for their Digital Marketing Requirements.

Juggling a demanding career, my love for hiking, nature photography and my haemodialysis was most definitely tough, but I hung in there and managed to strike a balance for 17 long years.

In June 2019, I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I underwent an ABO incompatible kidney transplant, wherein my mother donated a kidney and blessed me a renewed lease of life.

I am now associated myself with Amar Gandhi Foundation, managed by my nephrologists and I have been driving the activities of the Foundation.

I was very well appreciated for my contribution to helping patients during the COVID Crisis. I single-handedly managed to create a comprehensive set of transport options for patients (not only kidney) to reach hospitals during the lock down. This was done for many cities all over India and managed only by using phone and email.

I have continued peer counselling for others with kidney failure, thus making a huge difference to lives of several kidney patients, all over.