84-Year-Old Mother Defies Age to Donate Kidney & Save Daughter: ‘I’ve Lived My Life, She Hasn’t
In an extraordinary display of maternal love that has captured the nation’s attention, 84-year-old Buddho Devi from Bharatpur has become the oldest organ donor in the history of Rajasthan’s prestigious SMS Hospital. The frail but fiercely determined grandmother donated her kidney to save her 46-year-old daughter Guddi, who was battling end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) – a decision that has rewritten medical textbooks and touched countless hearts.
The emotional journey began in October 2024 when Guddi, a mother herself, was diagnosed with complete kidney failure. As she endured the exhausting cycle of dialysis three times a week, doctors delivered the grim prognosis: without a transplant, her chances of survival were dwindling. What followed was a remarkable family drama that saw multiple relatives undergo compatibility tests, only for the unlikeliest candidate – octogenarian Buddho Devi – to emerge as the perfect match.
“I’ve lived my full life watching my children grow,” the spirited grandmother told Times of India, her voice steady with conviction. “When the doctors said I could give Guddi more years with her own children, there was no question in my mind. A mother’s duty never ends.”
What makes Buddho Devi’s case truly exceptional is how she shattered multiple medical assumptions. While most hospitals hesitate to consider donors above 60-65 years due to surgical risks, the feisty octogenarian’s extraordinary health credentials stunned the medical team. Born and raised on her family farm in Bharatpur, Buddho Devi attributed her vitality to a lifetime of physical labor, homegrown organic diet (including fresh milk and ghee from her own cows), and complete absence of modern lifestyle diseases.
Dr. Dhananjay Agrawal, the senior nephrologist who led the transplant team, recalled his initial skepticism: “When we first saw her medical reports, we thought there must be some mistake. An 84-year-old with the kidney function of a 50-year-old? Her cardiovascular health was better than many patients half her age.”
The groundbreaking surgery on May 23 lasted nearly five hours, with the medical team holding their breath as they monitored Buddho Devi’s response to anesthesia. Against all odds, the elderly woman was sitting up and eating solid food within 24 hours, and walked out of the hospital triumphantly just three days later – even as her daughter began showing positive signs of kidney function in the ICU.
This medical milestone has sparked nationwide discussions about age barriers in organ donation. Dr. Shivam Priyadarshi, SMS Hospital’s urology chief, emphasized: “Buddho Devi’s case proves we need to evaluate donors based on biological age rather than chronological age. Her farming lifestyle gave her the resilience of someone decades younger.”
As Guddi continues her recovery, the family’s story has become a beacon of hope for thousands of CKD patients with elderly relatives. Social media has flooded with tributes to the “Super Mom from Bharatpur,” while medical colleges are already studying her case to redefine donor eligibility criteria.
For Buddho Devi, however, the calculus was simple: “They’re calling me brave, but what mother wouldn’t do this? When you hear your child’s laughter again after months of suffering, that’s the only reward you need.” Her words, echoing through hospital corridors, remind us that the greatest medical breakthroughs sometimes begin with the simplest human emotions – a parent’s unconditional love.
