Teen who received kidney from dad makes a splash with 3-km Malvan lap | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: Thirteen-year-old Ishaan Anekar was among the first 40 children to complete 3km in a state-level open sea swimming competition near Malvan on Sunday. But it’s not this feat that sets the Thane teenager apart, it’s the fact that he swam in the Arabian Sea three years after receiving a kidney from his father.
Ishaan was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome, a rare genetic kidney disease, when he was two years of age and needed a transplant when he was 10. “Alport Syndrome is a kidney disease in which a lot of protein is lost in the urine. There are also associated abnormalities such as hearing impairment and damage to the eye lens,” explained nephrologist Dr Bharat Shah.
With the help of medications and lifestyle adaptations, Ishaan managed a “normal childhood”, learning basketball and karate along with his schooling, said his mother Mansi. Swimming, which he took up at seven years of age, emerged as the clear favourite as he participated in interschool competitions. He took up training under coaches Aarti Pradhan and Narendra Pawar at Dharamveer Anand Dighe Taran Talao of Thane’s Dhanaraj Pillay Foundation, who prepared him for the Malvan competition.
At 10, Ishaan’s creatinine levels started increasing rapidly and he was advised to undergo a kidney transplant. His father Anant donated one of his kidneys to him.
It was during Ishaan’s pre-competition training sessions in Uran that his parents started worrying a bit; he had so far swum in pools with controlled environment and safety, good stamina is required to swim 3km into the sea and there were hygiene concerns too. “But Ishaan defied all odds. He not only finished the race in his first attempt at sea swimming, but was also one of the first 40 kids at the winning line,” said a proud Mansi.
Dr Shah, who has been organising National Transplant Games for decades to underline that recipients can lead normal lives, said: “Many people are scared of getting a transplant, so we hold these games to show that recipients can return to their normal life. We also include donors so that people are encouraged to donate.”
This could not be more true for the father-son duo, with Anant winning a gold medal in running and Ishaan a gold in badminton at the 2023 National Transplant Games organised by Dr Shah’s Narmada Kidney Foundation.
Ishaan already has his next goal ready. “Right after getting out of the water on Sunday, he said he wants to swim the 10km race next year,” said Mansi.