A FATHER’S DAY GIFT: DAUGHTER DONATES PART OF HER LIVER, GIVING HER FATHER A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

A FATHER’S DAY GIFT: DAUGHTER DONATES PART OF HER LIVER, GIVING HER FATHER A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE 

~ Daughter with unique liver anatomy donates part of her organ to her father at Fortis Hospital, Mulund  

Mumbai, 15th June, 2024: While Father's Day often sees children, especially daughters, gifting their dads items like shirts, perfumes, or watches, Shruti Pardeshi chose to give her father the gift of a healthier life. The 21-year-old courageously donated a part of her liver to her father. The transplant was successfully performed by Dr Gaurav Gupta, Director of the Department of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, and his team at Fortis Hospital, Mulund. 

The patient, Jitendra Pardeshi (45) from Nashik, had been struggling with decompensated Chronic Liver Disease, Hepatic Encephalopathy (liver-related brain dysfunction), ascites, and renal dysfunction for over three years. In the past year, his health further declined as he experienced Jaundice, episodes of blood vomiting, and even suffered a stroke due to blood thinning. 

His family, especially his daughter, could not bear to see him in such distress. Determined to see her father recover, Shruti brought the family to Fortis Hospital, Mulund, in Mumbai. Understanding the severity of his condition and the available treatment options, Shruti readily volunteered to donate part of her liver. However, during her pre-surgery evaluation, it was discovered that she had a unique anatomy. Typically, the blood supply for the right and left sides of the Liver are separate, but in Shruti's case, her left liver received partial blood supply from vessels in the right liver. This meant that using her right liver for the transplant could impact her remaining left liver. Consequently, the doctors at Fortis Hospital decided to use only half of the right side of her liver (Right Posterior Sector Graft) for the transplant. 

Dr Gaurav Gupta Director, Dept. of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said, “We had two challenges in this case. First, the daughter’s unique anatomy, due to which we performed right posterior segment graft, which is very rarely done. In this type of donor surgery, instead of taking right side of liver (60-65 percent of liver), we take half of right side of liver (around 30-35 percent of her liver). It makes donor surgery challenging. Second challenge was the recipient accepting such a small liver, as it could cause complications. Normally a recipient needs around 500- 600 grams liver to survive, in this case we could give him only 370gms, which was very low. However, we overcame the hurdles and the surgery was a success.” 

Post-surgery, both the patient and the donor have returned to Nashik and are doing well. Shruti, an engineer and owner of an IT firm, shared her thoughts: “It was disheartening to see my father fall sick so often, and I knew he needed a permanent solution to recover. When we were informed about the transplant, I immediately offered my liver because I wanted my dad to be healthy. Since the surgery, he has been active and full of energy. We are grateful to Fortis Mulund and the medical team, who found a solution to my unique liver anatomy and helped me give my father a second chance at life.” 

Both the recipient and the donor are doing well. As a precautionary measure, Jitendra has been advised to take the necessary medications and follow a healthy lifestyle. On Father's Day, June 16th, the father-daughter duo will be celebrating seven weeks post-transplant; planning is underway with much enthusiasm.