Mother’s Day celebrates unconditional love, sacrifice, and the extraordinary bond between a mother and her child. However, for several families at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, motherhood has gone far beyond caregiving. Mothers at the hospital have made the courageous decision to donate a part of their own liver to save their children’s lives.
These journeys reflect not only medical success stories but also powerful examples of resilience, strength, and selfless love. From sleepless nights in hospital corridors to emotionally exhausting treatment phases, these mothers have consistently chosen hope over fear.
A Mother’s Courage Becomes Her Son’s Lifeline
One such inspiring story is that of Jyoti Vijay Singh, a 34-year-old homemaker from Mumbai, whose courage gave her six-year-old son, Priyansh Singh, a second chance at life.
Six months ago, Priyansh began experiencing persistent abdominal swelling, poor appetite, weakness, weight loss, and repeated episodes of fatigue, which gradually disrupted his daily activities and school routine. Following detailed investigations, including blood tests, imaging scans, and specialised liver evaluations, doctors diagnosed him with centrally located unresectable hepatoblastoma, a rare and aggressive liver cancer commonly seen in infants and young children.
Doctors immediately initiated treatment after the diagnosis.
Complex Treatment Led to Life-saving Transplant
Over the following months, Jyoti remained by her son’s side as he underwent multiple chemotherapy cycles, repeated hospital admissions, and emotionally draining treatment sessions. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, she continued to support him throughout the process.
As per the press release, doctors explained that without timely intervention, the tumour could have spread rapidly across the liver and severely affected its function. Since the tumour was centrally located, standard surgical removal was not possible. Consequently, liver transplantation became Priyansh’s only curative option.
Without hesitation, Jyoti decided to donate the left lateral lobe of her liver, weighing nearly 250 grams, to save her son’s life. The highly complex transplant procedure lasted nearly 12 hours and was successfully completed, giving Priyansh renewed hope for recovery.
Today, even while recovering from her own surgery, Jyoti continues to care for her son and manage her family responsibilities with remarkable determination.
Wadia Hospital Strengthens Access to Pediatric Liver Transplants
At Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, a dedicated multidisciplinary transplant programme supports such life-saving procedures. The programme brings together paediatric surgeons, hepatologists, anaesthetists, intensivists, oncologists, nursing teams, transplant coordinators, nutritionists, and social workers under one roof to provide comprehensive care.
Importantly, the hospital delivers these advanced liver transplant services within a public healthcare framework, making specialised treatment accessible to families who may otherwise struggle to afford care at large corporate hospitals.
Through institutional commitment, charitable support, and a strong focus on equitable healthcare, Wadia Hospital continues to ensure that children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds receive access to life-saving transplantation.
Mothers Have Enabled Majority of Pediatric Liver Transplants
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala highlighted the critical role mothers play in pediatric liver transplantation.
“Across India, living donor liver transplantation has become a vital lifeline for children with end-stage liver disease. At Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, nearly 70% of our 16 pediatric liver transplants have been made possible by mothers who stepped forward to donate a part of their liver to their child,” she said.
She further added that every transplant represents not just a medical achievement but also a story of hope, sacrifice, and humanity.
“What moves us most deeply is the extraordinary strength shown by mothers who willingly undergo major surgery so their children may live healthy and fulfilling lives. We remain committed to building a healthcare system where even the most advanced treatments are available to ordinary families with dignity, compassion, and excellence,” Dr. Bodhanwala stated.
Celebrating Mothers as True Life-givers
This Mother’s Day, the hospital honoured these women not only as caregivers but also as true life-givers. Their journeys stand as powerful reminders that while medicine can heal, it is love, courage, and sacrifice that truly transform lives.