This is an archive article published on August 1, 2015
In Kerala, man donates liver to friend he made on the bus
Making a friend on a bus turned out to be a life saver for Kerala’s Puthukkodathu Sreekumar. In November, Sreekumar — who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease and was in desperate need of a donor — was travelling from Attappady to Mannarkkad when he met 32-year-old K S Ajeesh on the bus. […]
Written by Shaju Philip
Thiruvananthapuram | Updated: August 1, 2015 09:04 AM IST
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Making a friend on a bus turned out to be a life saver for Kerala’s Puthukkodathu Sreekumar.
In November, Sreekumar — who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease and was in desperate need of a donor — was travelling from Attappady to Mannarkkad when he met 32-year-old K S Ajeesh on the bus.
Ajeesh, a survey assistant with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, and Sreekumar, a fertiliser dealer, were sitting next to each other and started talking. Both had gone to Attappady for work.
“We started talking casually. As the conversation progressed, Sreekumar told me about his disease. He told me how he had failed to find a matching donor from within the family,” said Ajeesh, a native of Idukki.
That evening, they parted ways at their destination. Later, they started talking over the phone and, eventually, meeting. That’s when Ajeesh realised time was running out for his friend.
Sreekumar’s daughter, S Greeshma, said the family had started preparing for the worst. “My father was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis four years ago. It grew into a tumour last year. We were willing to give a part of our liver to him, but we were not compatible. His health was worsening with every passing day,” she said.
Then, Ajeesh decided to donate his liver. “I was inspired by success stories of non-related donors in organ transplants. My family was against it initially, but later supported me,” said Ajeesh.
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The surgery was performed on July 15. Ajeesh was discharged a few days ago, while his friend is recovering in the hospital.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
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