Where donation is a family principle

On occasion of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, DNA profiles a few souls who have saved many lives

Devanshi Joshi. Ahmedabad

Saturday, June 14, 2008

The Malvankar family has a special feature: all 30 members are blood donors. The family has a custom to celebrate each member's 18th birthday by donating blood. Whoever in the family reaches 18, starts donating blood from that day.Shakuntala Malvankar, 68, residing at Mithakhali is the oldest member in the family. She has donated blood for 35 times and still wants to continue but the age limit for blood donation is the constraint. However, her sons, daughters, daughters-in-law and grandsons are the pride donors, who have saved several lives.Shakuntala Malvankar says, "My husband late Dr VG Malvankar made efforts to start first voluntary blood bank at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. He inspired all of us and we all started donating blood. Every year, in October, which is the month of both birth and death anniversaries of my husband, we arrange blood donation camp." Siddhartha Malvankar is a centurion blood donor of this family who has donated blood for 127 times. "Our family does not contribute in blood donation only but we also organise blood donation camps to make people aware and let them know how their small efforts can save one's life," he said.Dr Hemant Saraiya, a surgeon from Paldi, is a centurion blood donor. He has donated blood for 110 times. Dr Saraiya started donating blood against the wish of his parents in his teens but his efforts made his family aware about the cause. And soon his parents, wife and brother joined him and started donating blood. Dr Saraiya first donated blood which happened accidentally. "I just had learnt identifying blood groups during my MBBS study days. At that time, some emergency occurred for suitable blood match and my blood group matched with the patient's. First time I donated blood which saved one's life. Till that day I have been donating blood regularly at the interval of three months," he says."My wife Jagruti is also a donor. My brother Hitendra in the US also donates blood there. Earlier my parents did not support as they were not aware of how their donation can save someone's life but after knowing the value of their donation, they too started donating blood." Surendra Patel, 73, residing at Gulbai Tekra has donated blood 100 times. His wife Urvashi Patel also donated blood many times. Now, their two sons and daughters-in-law are continuing their legacy."I don't remember when I started donating blood. Blood donation is a mahadan. Nothing can be greater than this,'' he says."When my blood saves someone's life, it gives deep satisfaction," says Urvashi.Suresh Patel living in Ambawadi has donated blood 107 times and his wife Dharmishtha has donated 60 times. Their two children are also frequent donors."If you want people to know about something, then you should start doing it yourself first. I myself started donating blood and later my family and others joined me,'' he said.