Brother of Hindu Donor Ties Rakhi to Amputee Muslim Youth Who Donated Limb
In a remarkable story of medical triumph, emotional healing, and interfaith unity, 16-year-old Anamta Ahmed from Mumbai became the world's youngest recipient of a shoulder-level hand transplant. The donor was Riya Mistry, a 9-year-old girl from Valsad, Gujarat, who tragically passed away in September 2022.
Anamta's life changed drastically when she lost her right arm in an accident involving a high-tension cable in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, on October 30, 2022. With limited function in her left arm, her life took a turn for the better when she received Riya’s hand via a transplant supported by a Surat-based NGO.
The Mistry family, who had lost Riya, found solace in the knowledge that her organs, including her right hand, were being used to help another life. The families' emotional bond deepened when Anamta travelled to Valsad to meet Shivam Mistry, Riya's brother, and tie a rakhi on his wrist during the Raksha Bandhan celebrations.
For Anamta, tying the rakhi was more than just a symbolic gesture. She considered Shivam her brother and promised to tie him a rakhi every year. Trishna Mistry, Shivam and Riya's mother, felt that Riya came back to life through this act, reinforcing the connection between the two families.
The meeting on Tithal Beach road in Valsad was an emotional reunion. Anamta was dressed in a pink salwar-suit, and upon her arrival, she received a tight embrace from Shivam's mother. The Mistry family found comfort in seeing Anamta happy and living well after their loss.
Trishna Mistry prepared gulab jamun, Riya's favourite sweet, to celebrate Raksha Bandhan. The day was filled with joy, love, and a unique sibling bond that transcended religious lines—Anamta is Muslim, and the Mistrys are Hindu.
This heartwarming story is a testament to the power of organ donation and the healing power of love and unity. Anamta, now using Riya’s hand, has been given a new lease on life, and Shivam and his family have found a sense of peace in knowing that Riya's legacy lives on through her selfless act.
[1] Anamta Ahmed Undergoes World's Youngest Shoulder-Level Hand Transplant [2] Riya Mistry's Right Hand Transplanted onto Anamta Ahmed [3] Anamta Ahmed and Shivam Mistry Form Unique Sibling Bond [4] Trishna Mistry Prepares Gulab Jamun for Raksha Bandhan Celebration [5] Interfaith Harmony: Anamta Ahmed and the Mistry Family's Emotional Journey
- In the aftermath of her life-changing hand transplant, Anamta Ahmed, now living with Riya Mistry's hand, is focused on embracing a fresh home-and-garden lifestyle, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life.
- As the families continue to bond, Anamta Ahmed and Shivam Mistry's unique lifestyle, steeped in mutual respect and love, serves as a powerful symbol of cross-cultural harmony and unity in their community.
