For 68-year-old Shanthaiah, an ex-soldier, saving the life of his daughter, suffering from a kidney disorder was paramount, and he had no hestitation to donate his kidney even as the two reminisced about it on the occasion of Father's Day celebrations today.
"I am happy to save my daughter after giving her one of my kidneys," Shanthaiah told PTI here.
Two years ago, Vijaylaxmi fell down unconcious in the house and the family rushed her to a local hospital. She had tests and scans and was diagnosed with a kidney disorder. Doctors gave two months time for her suvival, he said.
He said it was a huge shock to his family and he always knew the day would come when Vijaylaxmi would need a kidney transplant.
Vijaylaxmi was admitted to Banjara Hospital in January 2013 in Hyderabad and was ready to undergo transplantation, but it wasn't easy to convince the doctors as they wouldn't approve of his willingness to donate his kidney citing his age.
They ultimately relented when he said he wanted his daughter to live even at the cost of his life,Shanthaiah said.
The 28-year-old Vijaylaxmi said she used to get tired and it was a very difficult period for her. "My parents and family members found it very hard. My father did not talk about my fatal kidney disease," she added.
When doctors performed a successful transplantation, Shanthaiah said, "It seemed it was God's way of laughing."
Shanthaiah said his kidney gave her another shot at life.
Vijaylaxmi said no words could express what her father had done for her."My only wish is that if I am born again I would want to be his mother."
Now she is living her life as a normal person.
