After a 14-year hiatus, BMC-run KEM Hospital in Parel successfully performed a live donor liver transplant. On June 3, a 35-year-old mother, Salma Khan, donated part of her liver to her nine-year-old son, Abdullah, who suffers from Wilson’s disease, a genetic disorder. While Salma is expected to be discharged on Saturday, Abdullah will remain in the ICU for another 10 days.
This marks the second liver transplant at KEM Hospital in two months. In March, an 11-year-old boy received a whole liver from a brain-dead donor. The hospital had previously halted live donor transplants after a tragic incident 14 years ago, where a donor, a 53-year-old mother, passed away post-surgery. Liver transplants are notably complex due to the organ’s critical role in regulating blood and other vital chemicals, necessitating extensive coordination among various medical departments and professionals.
Dr. Sangeeta Ravat, dean of KEM Hospital, reported that Salma has recovered well and is fit for discharge, and Abdullah has started taking oral feeds and is progressing as expected. The hospital recently upgraded its liver ICU with the support of a donor and additional municipal commissioner Dr. Sudhakar Shinde, who praised the dedication of the medical team for their hard work in transforming the Khan family’s life.
As reported by Times of India, the Khans moved to Mumbai from Kanpur in 2021 to seek treatment for Abdullah. Salma recounted the heartbreaking loss of three of her children to jaundice over the past 15 years. Abdullah, initially diagnosed with Wilson’s disease at KEM Hospital, had responded well to medication but suffered acute liver failure during a visit to Kanpur. After returning to KEM, Salma was found to be a suitable liver donor for her son. Determined to combat the disease that had plagued her family, she chose to donate her liver to Abdullah, hoping to bring an end to their long struggle.