Surat: Seventeen-year-old Anamta Ahmad travelled from Mumbai to Valsad on Thursday to celebrate Rakshabandhan with Shivam Mistry, whose late sister Riya donated the hand that helped transform her life, turning a pioneering transplant into a lasting family bond.A large crowd gathered to welcome Anamta as she arrived to tie a rakhi to Shivam Mistry (16). Many who had known Riya got emotional as they greeted Anamta and touched the transplanted hand. The hand belonged to Riya Mistry (9) and was donated after she was declared brain dead in Sep 2024.Over the past two years, Anamta has come to symbolise the connection forged through Riya’s gift, linking families from different communities through a shared story of loss, healing and affection.A first-year BCom student at Mithibai College in Mumbai, Anamta suffered an electric shock while playing on a terrace in Aligarh, UP, in Oct 2022. She had come into contact with a live high-tension power line, and suffered severe burns to both hands. Her right arm was amputated at the shoulder, while surgeons were able to save her left hand.Anamta later became the world’s youngest recipient of a shoulder-level hand transplant. Today, she can carry out everyday activities with the transplanted hand.“I feel like coming to home meeting my parents and especially my brother Shivam on Rakshabandhan. I feel like I belong to this place,” Anamta told TOI.Donate Life, an NGO that promotes organ donation awareness, and gynaecologist Dr Usha Meisheri, counselled the Mistry family when Riya was declared brain dead. Her kidneys, liver, one hand, lungs and corneas were donated. The hand was transplanted to Anamta at Mumbai’s Global Hospital by Dr Nilesh Satbhaya.Shivam, a Class XI student, said, “I feel happy as if my sister came back to tie Rakhi to me. I recalled the times I played with Riya, and had a good time with Anamta.”He gifted Anamta a makeup box, recalling that it was something Riya particularly liked.Residents of the town who had known Riya and her family over the years came to meet Anamta. For many, the encounter stirred memories of the young donor whose gift continues to touch lives.“The organ donation and efforts of all to make it successful is an example of unity. Anamta has four parents from different communities who love her from the bottom of their hearts,” said Aqeel, her father.Anamta’s mother, Darksha, said watching her daughter rebuild her life after the accident has brought comfort to the family.Riya’s parents, Trishna and Bobby Mistry, remain in regular contact with Anamta and often speak with her when they miss their daughter.“We all were waiting for Rakshabandhan to meet Anamta and spend some time with her. We feel glad that our daughter helped make the lives of others better,” they said.“There is no better example of unity through organ donation. We feel proud to be part of this historic event organ donation event,” said Nilesh Mandlewala, the founder of Donate Life.
