by Suman Gupta
Mathura, 1 October 2026: A timely intervention and coordinated effort by members of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International (RCODI) helped facilitate a successful eye donation in Mathura early this morning, potentially giving others the gift of sight.
In the early hours of the morning, Rotarian PHF Deepak Goel, Foundation Chair of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International, received a call from Dr Uma Sharma, an active social worker and member of the Senior Citizens Welfare Association of Mathura, of which Rotarian Deepak Goel is the President.
Dr Uma Sharma informed him that a person close to her had passed awayat his residence at Chungi wali Gali, Dholi Pyau in the early morning. She immediately counselled and convinced the bereaved family to donate the deceased person’s corneas and requested Rotarian Deepak Goel to facilitate the donation.
Without delay, Rotarian Deepak Goel contacted Rotarian Lal Goel, Founder & Charter President of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International and Chairman, Organ Donation India Foundation & GYAN, and apprised him of the situation.
At that time, Rotarian Lal Goel was boarding a flight from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Despite being in the aircraft, he immediately contacted Dr Shroff’s Eye Care Institute, Vrindavan, and requested them to facilitate the corneal retrieval. As the aircraft was about to take off, he shared Rotarian Deepak Goel’s contact details with Mr Roshan Singh of Dr Shroff’s Eye Care Institute so that the process could continue without any delay.
On the instructions of Mr C. P. Massy, Administrator, Dr Shroff’s Eye Care Institute, Mr Roshan Singh immediately contacted Rotarian Deepak Goel, obtained the necessary details and location, and proceeded to the residence of Shri Arun Kumar, the deceased.
Despite being in a period of deep personal grief, the family members of Shri Arun Kumar—including his brothers Mr Harish Kumar and Mr Sunil Kumar, sister-in-law Mrs Kalpana, and nephew Mr Ujjawal Kumar—took the courageous and compassionate decision to donate his eyes. They fully cooperated with Mr Roshan Singh and the medical team, enabling the corneas to be retrieved successfully.
A Certificate of Eye Donation was subsequently issued to the family.
Expressing his gratitude, Rotarian Lal Goel thanked the family members of Shri Arun Kumar for taking the noble decision to donate his eyes at a difficult moment. He also expressed appreciation to Dr Uma Sharma, Mr C. P. Massy and Mr Roshan Singh for their prompt support and coordination.
Rotarian Lal Goel particularly thanked Rotarian PHF Deepak Goel for responding immediately to the call in the early hours and becoming instrumental in facilitating the donation.
“Eye donation is a precious gift that can restore the gift of sight to others. The courage of a family to think of helping others in their moment of grief is truly inspiring. Timely action is critical in eye donation, and today’s successful coordination demonstrates how awareness, counselling and immediate response can make a meaningful difference,” said Rotarian Lal Goel.
The Rotary Club of Organ Donation International continues to work towards creating greater awareness about organ and eye donation and encouraging families to take informed decisions that can give others the gift of life and sight.
Once again, the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International’s timely intervention and commitment to the cause helped turn a moment of loss into an opportunity to give the gift of sight.
