Woman’s generosity saves 3 lives

Doctors transplant vital organs in ground-breaking achievement

RAWALPINDI:

In a ground-breaking achievement, doctors at the Bahria Town Safari Hospital in Rawalpindi have successfully saved three lives through the transplantation of organs donated by a late donor.

According to the hospital management, the medical teams transplanted the late Riffat Zartaj’s liver and two kidneys into three patients, marking a significant milestone.

The kidney transplants were performed at the Bahria Town Safari Hospital, giving a second chance of life to 28-year-old Ahsan Jameel and 53-year-old Major Rukhsana Tasneem. Simultaneously, the liver transplantation took place at PKLI Hospital, saving the life of a 35-year-old patient named Umar Khayyam.

All three recipients are reported to be recovering rapidly.

During a press conference, the management of the hospital revealed that Riffat Zartaj had expressed her desire to donate both kidneys and her liver in 2012. Tragically, she suffered a fatal brain stroke earlier this month, prompting her family to fulfil her wishes. With the family's consent, doctors at the hospital successfully removed Riffat Zartaj's kidneys and liver.

Dr Fahad Abbas, the deceased woman's brother, shared details of the events leading up to the organ donation. He explained that Riffat's wish to donate her organs dates back to 2012, and after a fatal stroke on November 9, the family decided to honour her will. Dr Noorul Huda, the daughter of the deceased, emphasised the family's commitment to organ donation awareness and fulfilling their mother's wishes.

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Air Commodore Muhammad Ilyas, Vice Chairman of Bahria Town, expressed gratitude for the charitable work during the press conference.

Major General Retired Professor Arshad Mahmood assured that all legal requirements for organ transplantation had been met, including obtaining permission from the Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority.

The medical team, including Dr Faisal Saud Dar from PKLI Hospital, Brigadier Retired Sarwar Alvi, Dr Ruqqiya Tahir, and Dr Naveed Sarwar, worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the organ transplants, the hospital management said.

They underscored the importance of organ donation and called for increased awareness and participation in such initiatives to save more lives.

Dr Noorul Huda spoke about the challenging decision the family faced but emphasised their dedication to implementing her sister's will.

During the press conference, she stressed the importance of preventing illegal kidney transplants and encouraged people to donate their organs before they pass away, fostering a chain of charitable acts.

She said the charitable work undertaken by Bahria Town Safari Hospital stands as an inspiring example, with the successful transplantation of organs contributing not only to saving lives but also to the broader cause of organ donation awareness.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2023.

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