Kozhikode: When 15-year-old Deekshith got a new lease of life through a heart transplant, he became the youngest who successfully underwent this surgery in the state. The surgery of Kasaragod native Deekshith was conducted at the Metromed Cardiac Centre in Kozhikode. He was discharged from hospital on Saturday. 

The donor Vishnu (21) had met with an accident in Bengaluru which led to brain death. His parents volunteered to donate Vishnu’s heart, liver, kidneys and cornea through the Mrithasanjeevani project. 

Deekshith had heart problems from the age of 2. Though treatments were taken from many hospitals, his heart pumping rate fell below 20 per cent and heart transplant surgery became inevitable, said Dr V Nandakumar. The visit of Vishnu’s parents Sunilkumar and Jisha to see Deekshith after his heart transplant surgery became a heart-wrenching scene at the hospital. 

The surgery was on the 15th birthday of Deekshith. Rajmohan Unnithan MP, Managing Director of the hospital Dr PP Muhammad Musthafa, Medical Director Dr Shaloob were present to see off Deekshith from the hospital. 

The team of doctors that conducted surgery also included Dr Abdul Riyad, Dr Abdul Jaleel, Dr Ashok Jayaraj, Dr K Vinod and Dr Lakshmi Sukumaran.