Beyond Roses: 354 Spouses in Gujarat Donate Kidneys for Love

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — While Valentine’s Day is often marked by roses and romantic dinners, in Gujarat, love has taken a far more powerful and life-saving form. Over the last five years, spousal kidney donation in Gujarat has emerged as a moving testament to commitment, with 354 husbands and wives donating kidneys to save their partners.

Data from the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad reveals that 306 wives donated kidneys to their husbands, while 48 husbands stepped forward to donate to their wives. The figures highlight both the enduring strength of marital bonds and the evolving participation of men in organ donation.

Health officials note that women — including wives, mothers and daughters — continue to form the majority of living donors in the state. However, a notable shift is underway. In 2024, nine husbands donated kidneys to their wives. That number rose to 15 in 2025, reflecting growing awareness and willingness among men to share the burden of sacrifice.

“True love is tested in adversity,” said Dr Pranjal Modi, Director of IKDRC. “A bouquet of roses may fade within hours, but donating a kidney gives someone decades of life. Organ donation is perhaps the purest form of love and commitment.”

Medical experts explain that in cases where spouses have incompatible blood groups, swap transplant arrangements allow two donor-recipient pairs to exchange kidneys, ensuring compatibility while preserving the spirit of voluntary donation.

Doctors at IKDRC say many couples arrive at the hospital after exhausting dialysis options. For them, transplantation becomes the only viable path forward. “When a spouse comes forward without hesitation, it not only saves a life but also strengthens the emotional recovery of the patient,” a senior transplant surgeon said.

Valentine’s Day traces its origins to Saint Valentine, believed to have been executed in 299 BC under orders of Claudius II. Centuries later, the meaning of love continues to evolve — and in Gujarat, it is being expressed not through grand gestures, but through life-saving sacrifice.