‘Children can lead normal life after liver transplant’

Chennai

Watching his seven-year-old daughter Harshitha Sree perform on stage has been one of the happiest moments for her father Vijay Kumar. Almost three years ago, liver complications had rendered her immobile and the only hope was a transplant. After a successful transplant at Global Hospitals, now Harshitha is in school. Being the donor for his daughter’s surgery, he is happy that he took the decision. “I didn’t think even for a minute, all I wanted was to see my daughter be like others—play and go to school, laugh and live,” he said.

The parents with their children, who have undergone liver transplants over the past few years at Global Health City had come together for a reunion on Saturday.

Speaking to DTNext Dr Mohamed Rela, Director and Head, Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Global Health City said that the children assembled there illustrated that life could be normal after a liver transplant. “There are a lot of fears among parents about how life would be for their child after undergoing one, or if they would be ill all their life? But look at the children here. You wouldn’t know they have undergone transplants, had you not been told about it,” he said.

It is believed that 2,500 transplants are required to be done every year in India, but these many aren’t performed. Dr Rela pointed out that since 10 years ago, liver transplants were not successful in India, even doctors are hesitant about the results of the same. “That is why we are not having as many transplants as we should be. That needs to change,” he said, adding that if primary level doctors refer patients to specialists at the right time is another question.