The “Avengers of Medicine” recently assembled in the Save7 “Life Pod” to bring life-saving and life-changing organs to more than eight transplant patients waiting for a second chance. This momentous event marks the culmination of over 18 months of tireless work by a group of medical students committed to saving lives through organ donation.

The “Avengers of Medicine” is how Jonty Wright, fifth-year medical student and director of Save7, refers to the teams of medical experts who swooped in to assist with the medical management and organ procurement of the Life Pod’s first donor patient.

In June this year, Save7 – a non-profit organisation established and managed by medical students at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) –launched the “Life Pod”, a dedicated specialised support unit for organ donors at Tygerberg Hospital. The groundbreaking facility is the first of its kind in Africa.

“There’s a special reverence to experiencing all our hard work coming to fruition. We are grateful the to family of the donor, who generously made all viable organs available for donation, leaving an unforgettable legacy for their loved one. All the staff lined up to give the donor an honour walk – it was very special,” says Wright.

This marks not only the first organ donation for the Life Pod but also the first posthumous multi-organ donation in over two years facilitated through Tygerberg Hospital. 

This breakthrough represents not only a medical achievement but also a profound humanitarian moment – the first time an organ donor has been securely nursed in a dedicated facility in South Africa. The LifePod was purpose-built to ensure that once families consent to organ donation, their loved ones are cared for with dignity in an environment designed specifically to preserve the gift of life.

While the Save7 team is elated about the first successful donation in the Life Pod, they say much work remains to raise awareness of organ donation. South Africa faces one of the world's lowest organ donation rates at just 0.6%, while over 4 000 patients await life-saving transplants. 

“The first donation was a tremendous success, not only for the transplant patients or for Save7, but also for the donor’s family, who said the donation through the Life Pod was a dignified and positive experience, allowing their loved one to leave a lasting legacy,” says Wright.

“We need to increase awareness of organ donation to empower families to make the right decisions for their loved ones when the time comes.”