Mom-in-law bares her heart, donates a kidney to son’s wife | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: Plots of many TV serials may revolve around the saas-bahu rivalry, but a Kandivli septuagenarian proved real life could be different as she ‘gifted’ one of her kidneys to her 43-year-old daughter-in-law earlier in the week.

Women make up for most live organ donors in India, donating to their spouses, parents or children. “But a mother-in-law donating a kidney to a daughter-in-law is rare, and I have only come across three such donations in my practice so far,” said nephrologist Dr Jatin Kothari who’s treating the daughter-in-law Amisha Mota.
The news of her mother-in-law Prabha Mota’s donation went viral on Saturday after Maharashtra Pradesh Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant, who lives in the same colony as the Mota family, tweeted, “The ideal set by the Mota family, especially Prabhaji, should be followed by all the mothers-in-law of the world.”

In November 2022, Amisha was diagnosed with kidney problems. “In April, her nephrologist Dr Jatin Kothari told her she could opt for pre-emptive kidney transplant or start dialysis,” said Amisha’s brother-in-law Jignesh. A weeping Amisha and her husband, Jitesh, met her in-laws to share the news.
“On seeing Amisha crying, my mother told her she was willing to donate one of her kidneys,” said Jignesh. Amisha’s husband Jitesh was recently diagnosed with diabetes and not eligible to donate. Her mother had a bypass surgery and her father had uncontrolled blood pressure.
A fortnight later, Prabhareiterated her offer to donate. After tests proved she was a compatible donor, the transplant went ahead on August 1 at Nanavati Hospital, Juhu.
Prabha was discharged on Friday and returned home to a floral welcome and pooja by her elder daughter-in-law. “I am feeling so happy I could donate a kidney to Amisha,” Prabha told TOI. “I don’t have daughters, and have considered my three daughters-in-law as my own children. When Amisha was crying, I knew I had to do something to help her,” she added. Amisha said, “My mother gave birth to me but my mother-in-law gifted me another life.”
Jignesh said they needed financial aid for the transplant. “Support in terms of appreciation was immense,” he said.
Dr Kothari said Amisha will be discharged Sunday. “While it’s laudable a mother-in-law donated a kidney to her son’s wife, the case highlights importance of pre-emptive transplants that provide patients permanent treatment before onset of kidney failure and dialysis,” he said.