Aneesh’s memories found a new meaning through Gokulapriyan as two families came together in a deeply moving reunion at Amrita Hospital. When the families gathered to remember Aneesh, who gave Gokulapriyan the gift of a new life by donating his hands, his sisters presented him with a watch that Aneesh had worn. As Gokulapriyan received the watch and held it in his hands, he was overcome with emotion. The gift, carrying the memories and affection of the donor, became the most touching moment of the gathering.

Gokulapriyan, a native of Salem, lost both his hands in an electric shock accident in 2018. On October 22, 2025, a team led by Dr. Subramania Iyer at Amrita Hospital successfully transplanted the donated hands of Aneesh, who had served as an officer at Poojappura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram. Aneesh had suffered brain death following a seizure during his pilgrimage to Sabarimala. His sisters, Lakshmi and Anju, along with their family members, and Gokulapriyan’s mother attended the reunion. The sister’s words that their brother would complete one year since his passing on November 8, and that he continues to live through seven people, moved everyone present.

C. Sadanandan Master, Member of the Rajya Sabha, was the chief guest at the gathering. He said that organ donation after death was an expression of compassion and humanity that transcended words. Calling it a remarkable act of kindness towards fellow human beings, he urged everyone to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation among as many people as possible. Dr. Prem Nair, Group Medical Director, Amrita Hospitals; Dr. Noble Gracious, Executive Director, K-SOTTO; and doctors from various departments of Amrita Hospital, Kochi, attended the event. They included Dr. Subramania Iyer, Dr. Kishore Purushothaman, Dr. Sam Thomas and Dr. Janardhanan R. from Plastic Surgery; Dr. George Kurian from Nephrology; Dr. Balu C. Babu from Orthopaedics; Dr. Jerry Paul and Dr. Sunil Rajan from Anaesthesia; and Dr. Ravi Shankaran from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Other hospital staff and Neetu P. Thomas, Transplant Coordinator, Kottayam Medical College, were also present.

Dr. Subramania Iyer said that Amrita Hospital had successfully performed 41 hand transplant surgeries in 23 patients over the past 11 years, making it the world’s largest centre for hand transplantation.