'The ability to give life to someone not related to you can be the biggest contribution to mankind'

When I decided to donate my organs, I thought this could be my biggest contribution to humanity,” said Gautam Gambhir at an event, as he spoke about the book Transplanting Hope , for which he has written the foreword. Authored by Dr Anupam Sibal and Dr Smita Malhotra , the book brings together 25 extraordinary journeys of children who underwent life-saving liver transplants. It highlights the resilience of young patients and their families, their emotional battles and the medical challenges.


'We celebrate triumphs and acknowledge the heartbreaks too'
“Through this book, we wanted to give readers a glimpse into the strength of these young warriors and the sacrifices their families make. Each story reflects a battle fought with determination, where medical expertise meets the unyielding human spirit,” said Dr Sibal, Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals & Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, while talking about the moving accounts of the children who underwent transplants and are now leading healthy lives. Dr Malhotra, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, also reflected on the experiences of families she has worked with. “The ability to give is powerful. We have seen parents fighting to be the donor, their struggles. While we celebrate every triumph, we also acknowledge the heartbreaks along the way, because they remind us of the urgency to keep advancing, to keep fighting, and to keep believing,” she said.


Giving life to someone is bigger than financial or emotional support: Gautam Gambhir
Talking about the impact of giving, Gambhir said, “The ability to give is the greatest thing one can do. It is bigger than financial or emotional support. The ability to give someone life – someone who is not related to you, not your blood relation – can be the biggest contribution to mankind. If this book inspires even one person in this room, then I think it has done its job.” Reflecting on his personal experience of pledging his organs for donation, the Indian cricket team’s chief coach said, “When I decided to donate my organs, I thought this could be my biggest contribution to humanity. Just looking at those little children – imagining them happy – I think, what better contribution can you make? My family had their apprehensions, but I believe it is our responsibility as individuals.”
As Gambhir concluded, Dr Sibal added, “Gautam has two daughters, and the intense involvement I see from him is something many fathers can learn from. When he can’t be physically present, he will WhatsApp for updates (on his kids). I truly appreciate the kind of belief in joint parenting he reflects is.” To this, Gambhir added, “There is no profession in the world that can keep you away from your children.”