Government officials, including Aravakurichi Tahsildar Mahendran, honored Oviya by garlanding her and paying tribute.
Published Sep 01, 2025 | 4:40 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 01, 2025 | 4:40 PM
Representational image: Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Both Rasya and Oviya died in separate mishaps, but their final act of kindness made everyone’s hearts swell with pride. Organ donation is not much talked about in our society due to social and religious conditioning, but such extraordinary tales should make us ponder over it.
In a span of just a few days, two young girls from Tamil Nadu – Thoothukudi’s Rasya and Karur’s Oviya – lost their lives in separate tragic accidents. Yet, through the courageous decision of their families to donate their organs, both have given multiple patients a second chance at life.
Their stories highlight the impact of organ donation and the extraordinary compassion that can emerge even in the midst of unimaginable grief.
What began as an ordinary journey for an 18-year-old B.Com student and her family turned into an irreversible tragedy, yet one that ended with an extraordinary act of humanity.
S Rasya, a bright young college student, was traveling with her parents and sister on 24 August, when disaster struck. The family’s four-wheeler suffered a sudden tyre burst while on its way towards Thoothukudi at around 5:00 pm. The vehicle skidded out of control, hit the sidewall of the road, and overturned.
The accident claimed the life of Rasya’s mother, Malar, a well-known dental technician working at Tirunelveli Medical College. She died instantly at the crash site. The devastating impact left Rasya, her father, and her sister with severe injuries. All three were rushed to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH).
At first, Rasya showed signs of struggle but hope lingered. On the family’s request, she was shifted to a private hospital for further treatment. However, her condition did not improve. Instead, it worsened rapidly. Doctors warned that her chances of survival were unpromising.
Realising the seriousness of her state, her relatives decided to bring her back to TvMCH on 30 August, where she was admitted once again to the emergency ward. That very day, doctors conducted a detailed series of examinations to assess her brain activity.
The results confirmed the family’s worst fear: Rasya was brain-dead, marking the end of her life, although she remained on life-support.
The confirmation of her condition was a devastating blow to her family, who had already lost a member, just days earlier in the same mishap.
The announcement of brain death left the family shattered. Yet, amid unbearable grief, Rasya’s family made a decision that transformed her tragedy into a beacon of hope. After detailed discussions with the doctors, they consented to donate Rasya’s vital organs so that others battling for survival might have a second chance at life.
On 31 August, Rasya’s organs were harvested for donation. According to the official medical report, her liver, both kidneys, and corneas were retrieved and prepared for transplantation. These precious donations are expected to change the lives of multiple patients who had been waiting for donors.
Hospital authorities noted the courage of the family in coming forward to approve the donation despite their personal loss. They emphasised how rare and inspiring it is for families to think of others at such a painful moment.
Rasya’s father and relatives, though devastated, expressed that they found some comfort in knowing that her death would not be in vain. Following the organ harvesting, a post-mortem examination was carried out, as required by protocol. Her body was then handed over to her relatives at 5:00 pm on 31 August.
While Tamil Nadu grieved the loss of 18-year-old Rasya, another incident of organ donation emerged from Karur. A few days earlier, Oviya, a 7-year-old girl from Seerangoundanoor near Aravakurichi, had also donated her organs following her sudden death, providing life to several patients in need.
On 29 August 29, Oviya had been traveling on a two-wheeler with her uncle when they crossed a speed breaker. She lost balance and fell, sustaining a serious head injury. She was rushed to Coimbatore KMC Hospital for treatment, but despite the doctors’ best efforts, her condition deteriorated. In the following days, she was declared brain-dead.
Faced with unimaginable grief, her parents, Ravi and Selvanayagi, gave their consent for organ donation. Oviya’s eyes, small intestine, large intestine, liver, and kidneys were donated. It was an extraordinary gift from a child who had barely begun her own life journey.
Her body was returned to her hometown. Despite the profound sorrow, the decision to donate her organs has offered hope to patients in need and served as a source of inspiration for the local community, highlighting the impact of organ donation even in the midst of tragedy.
Government officials, including Aravakurichi Tahsildar Mahendran, honored the young girl by garlanding her and paying tribute.
In death, little Oviya illuminated the lives of many others.
Rasya and Oviya’s young lives were tragically cut short by road accidents, yet through organ donation, their passing has given new life to several in need, leaving a lasting legacy of hope amidst sorrow.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
