New Delhi: A 10-year-old girl from Kashmir, suffering from a rare liver disease, was treated successfully at a city hospital here. The girl, hailing from Bandipore district, was battling a chronic liver disease which affects about one in two lakh people.
Fatima, a Class 6 student, was first admitted to a hospital in Srinagar for four months with three prolonged hospitalisation. But her condition continued to deteriorate. She was diagnosed with auto immune hepatitis, which could have taken her life in a few weeks without a liver transplant. She was then admitted to Apollo Hospital.
“In this disease, the body’s altered immune function causes one’s own antibodies to damage the liver. The body’s immune system, instead of attacking viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, attacks the liver leading to chronic inflammation and serious damage to the liver cells,” said Dr Anupam Sibal.
Dr Neerav Goyal, the senior consultant at the department of liver transplant and hepatobiliary, pancreatic surgery, added: “Fatima had deep jaundice. Fluid accumulated in her belly and the pressure in the blood vessels supplying the liver was high. Her liver had already shrunken and despite therapy bringing about some improvement, the fluid accumulation in her stomach persisted.”
“Considering her critical condition, we decided to perform liver transplant on her. Patient’s father, Syed Hussain (48), became the liver donor. We performed the 12-hour long surgery recently and all her liver function tests are normal now,” said Dr Sibal.
The hospital estimated the cost for her liver transplant surgery, which came as a shock to Mr Hussain. He was unaware of the fact that the complete cost of liver transplant consists of additional charges apart from liver transplant surgery, such as care and the cost of drugs.
Following this, social media came forward with offers of contributing towards Fatima’s liver transplant and generated Rs 18 lakh. The family also received support from the hospital, which waived some charges.
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