In a world where children often desert their elderly parents when it becomes tedious for them to provide care, a 33-year-old woman from Surat has defied this trend by selflessly donating a portion of her liver to her father-in-law who was battling chronic liver disease.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2019, Sanjay Viratia, a 58-year-old resident of Surat, underwent a health check-up that revealed liver swelling. Subsequently, he experienced blood in his vomit and stomach ulcers. Eventually, he had to undergo a life-saving living donor liver transplant where his courageous daughter-in-law Mital Viratia selflessly donated part of her liver.
To know more about this case, the Onlymyhealth team spoke to Dr Gaurav Chaubal, Director of Liver, Pancreas, and Intestine Transplant Program, and HPB Surgery, Gleneagles Hospitals, Dr Uday Sanglodkar, Senior Consultant Hepatologist and Clinical Lead Liver and Transplant ICU, Gleneagles Hospitals, and Dr Vivek Talaulikar, COO, Gleneagles Healthcare India.
Mital Viratia Demonstrates The Strength Of Family Ties
Initially, when Sanjay Viratia experienced symptoms like blood in his vomit, multiple doctors were unable to provide an accurate diagnosis. Over the next six months, his health deteriorated, making him suffer from frequent drowsiness and other symptoms that disrupted his daily life. His family doctor recommended seeking further treatment.
Explaining Sanjay Viratia’s case, Dr Sanglodkar said, “When Sanjay first arrived at our hospital, a thorough assessment, including a liver function test and MRI scan of the liver, confirmed that he had been dealing with chronic liver disease for the past three years.”
“He had recently been admitted to a hospital multiple times due to episodes of drowsiness, liver failure, and kidney damage. The decision was made to proceed with an early liver transplant as delaying the procedure could have resulted in severe consequences like liver failure and death.”
He continued, “Despite all family members willing to donate their part of liver none were a suitable match except for his daughter-in-law. She selflessly volunteered to donate a portion of her liver to save her father-in-law's life. A living donor liver transplant was then performed where the donor's liver completely regenerates within three months after the surgery.”
“With our blood types matching, I remained firm in my decision to save the life of my father-in-law," said Mital Viratia.
Also Read: Liver Transplant: Know Why & How Liver Transplant Through A Living Donor Is Safe, Explains Dr Vij
Robotic Liver Transplant For The Win
To save Sanjay Viratia’s life despite complications such as multiple hospitalisations, acute kidney injury, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and infection episodes, the doctors at Gleneagles Hospitals performed a complex robotic transplant.
Dr Gaurav Chaubal explained, “A liver transplant is a complex procedure wherein a damaged liver is replaced with a healthy one from either a deceased donor or a living donor who donates a portion of their liver. Robotic liver transplant offers safety and accuracy by reducing the risk of complications with successful outcomes for patients.”
According to a study by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, robotic surgery is revolutionising liver transplants, offering unparalleled precision and minimally invasive procedures. This cutting-edge technology reduces recovery time, minimises surgical trauma, and enhances patient outcomes.
Also Read: What Is Organ Transplantation? Know What Organs Can Be Donated
With robotic assistance, surgeons can perform complex liver transplants with greater accuracy, leading to fewer complications and faster healing. This advancement is transforming the field, making liver transplants safer and more efficient, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases.
Highlighting the benefits of a robotic surgery, Dr Chaubal listed:
- Shorter hospital stays
- Quicker recovery time due to smaller incisions
- Less trauma to surrounding tissues
- Reduced post-operative pain and discomfort
He added, “Robotic surgery enables patients to resume their daily activities with ease when compared to traditional surgeries.”
A Tale Of Familial Respect And Gratitude
Mital Vitaria’s courage not only helped her foster a strong bond with her father-in-law but also demonstrated respect for elders and the need to uphold family ties, creating a ray of hope in this bleak world.
Also Read: World Liver Day 2022: Benefits And Risks Of Living-Donor Liver Transplant
Sanjay Viratia expressed profound gratitude towards his daughter-in-law for generously offering to donate her liver without hesitation, “My daughter-in-law has shown care and love by stepping up to save my life. I feel blessed to have such a responsible and caring daughter-in-law who stands strong during challenging times. The advanced technology of robotics also ensured that I did not have a large abdominal scar and my recovery time was quick. ”
Dr Talaulikar concluded that this remarkable tale of a daughter-in-law selflessly donating her liver to her father-in-law is not just an act of compassion but a testament to the power of family bonds and modern medical technology.