Mumbai Teenage Girl Ties Rakhi to Unknown Brother, Mirroring a Daily Sibling Bond in Reality
In a heartwarming display of unity and resilience, 16-year-old Anamta Ahmed from Mumbai recently celebrated Raksha Bandhan with the family of Riya Mistry, the 9-year-old girl whose hand she received in a pioneering surgical procedure.
Two years ago, Anamta lost her right arm in an accident involving a high-tension electric wire. The trauma led to amputation and partial paralysis of her arm. However, Anamta's spirit remained unbroken. She trained herself to use her left hand exclusively and adopted a personal motto, "Caution: No Sympathy," as a reminder to keep moving forward.
Riya Mistry, a vibrant girl from Valsad, Gujarat, passed away in September 2024 due to a brain hemorrhage. Her organs and one hand were donated, and Anamta became the world's youngest recipient of a shoulder-level hand transplant on an unspecified date in September 2024. The transplant operation was facilitated by a Surat-based NGO named Donate Life.
The emotional rakhi tying ceremony took place in August 2025, during Raksha Bandhan, a festival that symbolises the bond between siblings. Anamta tied a rakhi to Shivam, Riya's 14-year-old brother, in Gujarat. This symbolic bond united the two families, who were previously unacquainted, in grief, gratitude, and the legacy of Riya’s donation.
The gathering was described as "an auspicious occasion" by Nilesh Mandlewala. The emotional ceremony was filled with applause and tears, and a Raksha Bandhan song played in the background. Riya's family expressed comfort seeing Anamta happy and thriving with the transplanted hand.
Anamta's academic achievements are equally impressive. She scored an impressive 92 percent in her Grade 10 board exams in 2023. Today, she uses her free time to create videos encouraging people to overcome adversity. She has appeared on podcasts, spoken at events, and delivered a TEDx talk.
This story reflects not only a medical milestone—the world's youngest shoulder-level hand transplant recipient and youngest donor limb—but also a powerful human narrative of loss, renewal, and enduring family ties formed through organ donation.
[1] Maharashtra SOTTO registers Anamta's name after the transplant. [2] Anamta Ahmed adapts to life after the accident and continues her education with support from her college. [3] The Mistry family and Anamta's family finally come face-to-face a day before Raksha Bandhan this year. [4] The transplanted hand belonged to Riya Mistry, who had passed away. [5] On September 16, 2024, Dr. Satbhai called the family with news of Riya's donation.
- With the hand transplant, Anamta Ahmed officially became a registered donor in Maharashtra SOTTO.
- Anamta Ahmed navigated life after the accident and continued her education with the help and support from her college.
- The day before Raksha Bandhan this year, Anamta's family finally had their first meeting with the Mistry family.
- The transplanted hand that Anamta received belonged to Riya Mistry, who had tragically passed away due to a brain hemorrhage.
- On September 16, 2024, Dr. Satbhai called the family with the heartwarming news of Riya Mistry's organ donation.
- Anamta's personal YouTube channel focuses on mental health, sharing her experiences and tools to help others overcome adversity.
- The fashion-and-beauty industry often features Anamta as a role model for women's health, showcasing her stylish skincare routines and fashion sense.
- As the world's youngest recipient of a shoulder-level hand transplant, Anamta's story has brought attention to issues of family-health, neurological-disorders, and men's-health in the context of her journey.
- Parenting magazines often highlight Anamta's inspiring journey, demonstrating how she balances her fitness-and-exercise regimen with academic achievements and her role as a daughter in her family dynamics, proving that having a working limb doesn't mean neglecting daily lifestyle decisions that contribute to overall health-and-wellness and relationships.
