Sheikh Hamdan thanks family for gift of life to three after death of boy, 2

The family of a two-yearold Indian boy whose organs were used to save the lives of three young people after his death have been thanked by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Vivan Vijayan’s organs were donated to two recipients in the UAE and one in Saudi Arabia.

Sheikh Hamdan thanked the boy’s father Vijith.

“I have received news that embodies the most wonderful humanitarian standing of Dubai,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Of the family of Vijith Vijayan, who donated the organs of their deceased twoyear-old son to save three sick children in the UAE and in Saudi Arabia and for giving them hope to live, thanks to God Almighty.

“May God have mercy on the child and I wish the three children good health.”

The transplants took place this week.

A young adult received a liver and a kidney at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, while a child had a kidney transplant at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital in Dubai.

Vivan’s heart was donated to a patient in Saudi Arabia.

A law regulating organ transplants was introduced in the UAE in 2016.

Anyone in the country, regardless of nationality, can become a donor or recipient of an organ.

Twenty-two people have had their lives prolonged with organs from six donors since the law was passed.

“It is the ultimate gift of life when a family decides to save the lives of others despite their loss,” said Dr Ali Al Obaidli, leading transplant doctor and chairman of the UAE National Transplant Committee.

“We really appreciate what this family did and the entire country is saluting and praying for their loved one who lost his life.”

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has carried out pioneering surgery since 2017, after the legal changes. Before the law was passed, operations were restricted to organs taken from living donors.

Residents can sign up as donors on the Hayat portal.