Friday, 24 September 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Setting up an example, two women Sushma and Sultana Khatoon donated their kidneys to each other’s husbands to save their lives. All four individuals are completely healthy right now.
Ashraf Ali (51) a resident of Doiwala, was on haemodialysis for the last two years as both of his kidneys had failed and a kidney transplant was the only option. His wife Sultana Khatoon, and other close relatives, were ready for donation but it was not possible due to lack of blood group match.
Another patient suffering from the same disease was Vikas Uniyal (50), a resident of Kotdwar. He had also suffered from double kidney failure and was on haemodialysis for the last two years. Vikas’s wife Sushma could not give her kidney as her blood group did not match with her husband. Both the families were looking for donors with a compatible blood group match. The process of repeated haemodialysis was taking a toll on the health of both the patients.
Interventional nephrologist at Himalayan Hospital, Jollygrant, Dr Shahbaz Ahmed, said that both the families looking for kidney donors were introduced to each other. On investigation, it was found that Sushma’s blood group matched with Ashraf while Sultana’s with Vikas. A ray of hope rejuvenated the failing spirits of the families and for them it did not matter to what religion the other person practiced.
Both Sushma and Sultana agreed to donate a kidney to each other’s husbands. Senior Urologist and Kidney Transplant Surgeon Dr Kim J Mamin said that permission was taken from Uttarakhand State Authority Committee for the kidney transplant. After this, a joint team of Urology and Nephrology departments was formed to perform this kidney swap transplant.
During the surgery, Sultana and Sushma underwent separate donor nephrectomy in two different operating rooms and their kidneys were transplanted to Vikas Uniyal and Ashraf Ali respectively. After this complicated and successful swap kidney transplant, both the kidneys are functioning normally. Both the families are now happy and relieved.
The team of the doctors engaged in the successful transplant were congratulated by the Vice-Chancellor Dr Vijay Dhasmana and Medical Superintendent Dr S L Jethani for their efforts.
