It is not a sacrifice: Elder sister donates a kidney to brother ahead of Raksha Bandhan

For 40-year-old Jitendra Singh Gangwar, Raksha Bandhan this year comes with a meaning he says he will never forget. After battling chronic kidney disease (CKD) and undergoing dialysis three times a week for 2.5 years, he received a kidney from the person who had stood by him through his illness, his elder sister, 45-year-old Beena Kumari Gangwar.Beena donated her right kidney to her younger brother in an ABO-compatible kidney transplant at ShardaCare-HealthCity in Greater Noida.The surgery was performed by Dr Anil Sharma, Director, Kidney Transplant & Urology. Both the donor and recipient have recovered well.‘MY SISTER GAVE ME A NEW LIFE’Jitendra Singh Gangwar, kidney transplant recipient, says dialysis had taken a toll on his life, but his sister continued to support him, including looking after his children when he was away for treatment.“My sister has been a pillar of strength for me throughout my life. Today, she is gifting me a new life with her donated kidney. I am beyond words knowing that she saved my life.”Jitendra has a five-year-old son and a younger daughter. He says he and Beena already shared a close bond, but the transplant has brought them even closer.“We were already very close, but this brought us closer. My sister took care of my kids when I was out on dialysis. Now she has given me a new life. I have to do everything for my sister.”He says doctors have advised him to be particularly careful after the transplant.“I have to take care of sanitisation, wear a mask and stay away from infections. I am taking medicines, but my sister is not taking any medicines. I will be taking medicines for my entire life. If I do not take care of sanitisation, the transplant can also fail.” Beena ties a rakhi to her brother Jitendra. Jitendra says he now wants to do something special for his sister in return.“I am proud of my sister. She gave me a new life. I want to do something on her behalf.”‘IT IS NOT A SACRIFICE’For Beena, donating her kidney was not a difficult decision when she saw her brother struggling with dialysis.“When I saw my brother suffering through dialysis, donating my kidney was not a sacrifice but a natural expression of my love and responsibility as his sister,” says Beena Kumari Gangwar, kidney donor.Beena, who is unmarried, says her family supported her decision. The siblings live together, and she says she is simply relieved to see her brother get another chance at life.“I felt like crying. My brother got a new life, and that is enough for me. I am happy that my brother has a new life now.”She also recalls that the family had faced financial difficulties during the treatment, but help came at the right time.“We had money issues, but help arrived at the right time. The doctors were very nice and supportive.”A TRANSPLANT AFTER YEARS OF DIALYSISJitendra had been living with CKD for more than two years and required dialysis three times a week. Doctors first worked on fluid management and optimising his overall health before declaring him fit for the transplant.Dr Anil Sharma, Director, Kidney Transplant & Urology, ShardaCare-HealthCity, said the case carried a special meaning ahead of Raksha Bandhan.“Medicine gave us the means, but it was her courage and devotion that gave him life.”Dr Kunal Raj Gandhi, Director, Nephrology, said transplantation can help suitable patients move beyond long-term dialysis and improve their quality of life. Dr Ahmed Kamaal, Director, Urology & KTP, said both the donor and recipient had recovered well after the procedure.For Jitendra, though, the medical details come down to something much simpler: his sister gave him another chance to be there for his children, and he wants to spend that life looking after her.- EndsPublished By: vaishnavi parasharPublished On: Aug 27, 2026 07:30 IST