Rare Lung Transplant Gives Faridabad Woman a Second Life Amid India’s Organ Shortage

A year after undergoing a rare double lung transplant , 66-year-old Jharna Bhaumik from Faridabad has regained the ability to live independently. A recovery doctors say also exposes India’s deep organ donor shortage and the enormous emotional and financial burden of transplant care.

Diagnosed with end-stage Interstitial Lung Disease caused by scleroderma, Bhaumik had become fully dependent on oxygen support before receiving donor lungs at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in May 2025.

Doctors said lung transplants remain among the most complex procedures, with patients facing lifelong risks of organ rejection , severe infections and complications from immunosuppressive medicines. Bhaumik spent months undergoing intensive rehabilitation, repeated scans and constant medical monitoring before gradually recovering normal respiratory function.

Medical experts warned that India’s transplant ecosystem continues to struggle because of extremely low cadaver organ donation rates . According to doctors, nearly 1,000 patients await lung transplants in India at any given time, while only around 150 surgeries are performed annually due to a shortage of suitable donor organs.

Specialists said lack of awareness about brain death , social hesitation and limited conversations around organ donation continue to prevent critically ill patients from receiving timely treatment.

Doctors also highlighted the heavy financial and psychological toll on families, with transplant surgeries, ICU care, rehabilitation and lifelong medication often costing several lakhs of rupees. Emotional stress, fear of infections and uncertainty during recovery further add to the burden on caregivers and patients alike.

Bhaumik credited both her doctors and the family of the brain-dead donor for giving her “a fresh lease of life”, saying every effortless breath now reminds her of the importance of organ donation and the power of family consent in saving lives .