A second chance at life: Rohit’s organ transplant journey from illness to renewal
When Rohit’s health began to fail, he never imagined how deeply the gift of organ donation would transform his life and the lives of those he loves most.
Rohit has always been the kind of person who gives back. A dedicated father of two and a longtime public servant for the State of Minnesota, his life was built around purpose — serving others, raising good humans, staying active in his community.
But in 2013, everything changed.
It began quietly, in work meetings, when he realized he couldn’t follow what was being said. Soon, the confusion gave way to something far worse. His body started to swell with severe water retention until he could barely recognize the person in the mirror. He was exhausted all the time. “Sometimes I had to pull my car over,” he said. “I just couldn’t stay awake.”
Doctors soon delivered devastating news no one wants to hear: his kidneys and pancreas were failing. Rohit was placed on the transplant waiting list and told to prepare for a long road ahead as he waits for an organ donor.
Then, one day, the phone rang.
Rohit was at work when he learned a kidney and pancreas donor match was available.
“I felt like a kid again”
The change was almost immediate. Within a month of surgery, Rohit felt like himself again — stronger, lighter, full of energy.
“I felt like a young kid jumping around,” he said with a smile. The man who once struggled to stay awake was now riding his bike again, filled with an energy he hadn’t felt in years.
For Rohit, the gift of organ donation wasn’t just about his own recovery. It was about everyone who loved him.
“If something had happened to me,” he said, “my parents would have lost their son, and my boys wouldn’t have had their dad.”
That understanding gave his new life deeper meaning. His sons have seen the power of organ donation firsthand and have become advocates themselves. They saw what a stranger’s act of generosity can do. Now, they talk about donation too.
“They say the ocean is made up of drops,” Rohit reflected. “Each drop matters. Every act of giving matters.”
A legacy of giving and gratitude
That generosity runs deep in Rohit’s family. When his mother passed away at 82, she too became a donor, giving what she could to help others.
Since his transplant, Rohit has become a LifeSource volunteer, sharing his story to encourage others to register as organ donors. He’s written to his donor’s family to express his gratitude, hoping one day to tell them in person how their loved one’s gift gave his family back their future.
“When I was sick, I wasn’t planning my life,” he said. “Now, I am.” He dreams of traveling, studying physics, and one day retiring — but his greatest goal is raising his two boys to be compassionate, giving humans.
He paused, reflecting on how much has changed since that call came through years ago.
“Receiving the gift of life didn’t just change me,” he said softly. “It changed everyone around me.”
You can give someone a second chance, like Rohit
Register online to be an organ donor. Your decision to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor can change lives.
Become a LifeSource Ambassador. Your own experience with donation and transplantation can inspire many in your community.