India (Commonwealth Union)_ Ten-month-old Aalin Sherin Abraham, who became Kerala’s youngest organ donor, was laid to rest with full state honors, as hundreds gathered to pay their last respects and stand in solidarity with her grieving family. The infant had suffered critical injuries in a recent road accident. She was travelling with her mother and maternal grandparents along the MC Road at Pallam near Kottayam when the accident occurred. Despite days of intensive treatment, doctors declared her brain dead. Aalin was the daughter of Arun Abraham and Sherin Ann John of Mallappally in the Pathanamthitta district.
Also read: Global AI spotlight shifts to India: Mega AI Impact Summit 2026 launches with 20 nations onboard!
Despite their unimaginable pain, her parents made a decision that would give countless families hope. They agreed to donate their daughter’s organs, allowing several children to get potentially life-saving transplants. The Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (K-SOTTO), which is in charge of organ donation and distribution in the state, oversaw the process. The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology obtained Aalin’s heart valve as a consequence of this collaborative effort. Her liver was allocated to KIMS Hospital, while her kidneys were transplanted at the Government Medical College. Her corneas were preserved at the eye bank of Amrita Hospital for future use.
Also read: Did Tamils walk Egypt’s sacred halls? Egypt’s royal tombs expose ancient Tamil ties!
Hospital officials confirmed that the kidney transplant performed at the Government Medical College and the liver transplant at KIMS Hospital were successful. Ten-year-old Shreya received one of Aalin’s kidneys, and six-month-old Dhriya received her liver. Both children, who are from Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram district, are recovering well under medical supervision. The heart valve has been carefully preserved and will be used for a suitable patient at a later stage. The funeral procession began from the family’s home and moved to the St Thomas CSI Church, where the service was held. The ceremony started at 3.30 pm and concluded at 4:45 pm. Police personnel rendered state honors before the final rites were performed at the church cemetery around 5 pm.
Also read: Bangladesh Election Results: Tarique Rahman’s BNP storms to power in Bangladesh!
Several prominent leaders attended the funeral to offer condolences. Industries Minister P. Rajeev said the state honors were a mark of respect for the family’s extraordinary decision. Ministers V. N. Vasavan, Saji Cherian, and Roshy Augustine were present, along with Congress leader P. C. Vishnunadh, MLA. A family member of one of the organ recipients also visited the residence to express gratitude. Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Kerala Health Minister Veena George attended the ceremony. Gopi remarked that the child would continue to live on through those who received her organs, noting that such acts of generosity transcend grief.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the tragedy had deeply saddened the state. In a message shared publicly, he praised the parents for choosing organ donation at a time of profound sorrow. He claimed that their choice was the epitome of humanity and compassion. The Chief Minister also praised the prompt collaboration between transplant teams, police officers, and medical professionals that made sure the organs arrived at recipients’ destinations on schedule. The anguish of losing their only child is still unbearable for Arun and Sherin. Yet they take comfort in knowing that her brief life brought new beginnings to others. “Our daughter became a source of hope for other children in her short life,” they said. “She lives on through them.”
