A year later, when Suresh visited the beneficiary of his father's kidney, he knew he couldn't have been more right. The very same patient had been transformed into a healthy professional - thanks to his presence of mind. It has been a year since the first two cadaver kidney transplants in the state were performed at Sion Hospital, on March 24 and April 26, 1997.``The worldwide rate of success for cadaver transplants is 63 per cent. The fact that two of our three patients have crossed the one-year benchmark and are healthy today, means that the danger is over,'' says Dr Vatsala Trivedi, head of the Department of Urology at SionHospital.

Since there are myriad problems with relatives donating kidneys and the Organ Transplant Act bars all unrelated live kidney transplants, cadaver transplant (harvesting kidneys from brain dead individuals) is an obvious option.

But the cadaver transplant project suffered enormous birth pangs, with 11 unsuccessful attempts in its wake. It was only on the 12th occasion that Dr Trivedi and her team managed to convince relatives of brain dead persons to donate their kidneys.

``We nearly succeeded on the 11th occasion when the donor's relatives agreed. The two recipients were called and prepared for surgery. However, the donor suffered cardiac arrest before we could extract the kidney,'' reveals Dr Mukesh Shete, lecturer in Nephrology at Sion Hospital.

Then in March last year, Narendra Chadha was admitted to the hospital with spontaneous intra-cerebral bleeding. After attempts to de-compress the brain failed and brain death was established, Suresh was asked if his father's kidney could bedonated.

``I could see my father breathing and thought it was atrocious that his organs should be removed. But after the doctor explained what brain death means, and mainly after I met the recipient, Vishnu Ghadge, I agreed,'' recalls Suresh.

Ghadge, a 47-year-old Kalyan resident, is an electrician at the municipal cemetery in Bhoiwada. Ever grateful to the Chadhas for their gift of life, Ghadge recently visited the family to thank them. ``I too was eager to know how he was doing as I feel a part of my father lives on in him,'' says Suresh. ``Someone accused me of selling my father's kidney and I was deeply hurt. But on the whole, people are appreciative,'' he adds.

Kumud Vijay Malankar (46), however, is not as fortunate. She does not know whom to thank for her second chance at life. After two years of dialysis, Malankar was operated on April 26 last year. The doctors say her donor was someone from Uttar Pradesh. ``At first, the donor's relatives wanted money in exchange. But they backed down only aftersome other family members came over. In any case, we did not let them meet the Malankars to avoid the risk of financial transaction,'' says Dr Trivedi.

Ghadge too was on dialysis for three years before his transplant. Besides the financial strain, the restrictions his condition entailed were killing.

However, following the transplant, both Ghadge and Malankar have been put on immuno-suppressive drugs. Though the painful regimen has eased since surgery, the financial burden is still crippling. But from an existence which revolved around dialysis and blood transfusions and the possibility of death ever present, Vishnu and Kumud now lead a life that is relaxed, productive, healthy - and very, very happy.