NEW DELHI:
Siblings usually have a bond like no other, but it was one specific act that brought an Uzbeki pair closer together than ever before.
Mr. Kayumova, a 25-year-old Uzbek man, donated his kidney to save his 9-year-old sister, Lola Kayumova. Since her birth, the sister has had congenital kidney disease. She suffered from bone deformities and was unable to walk. In Uzbekistan, no hospital could diagnose her kidney disease despite repeated tests. Her kidneys were both too small to produce enough urine. Due to a severe loss of kidney function, she also had low calcium levels, poor blood production, and anemia. On March 25th, 2022, her father took her to Delhi’s renowned Aakash Hospital after finding no solution to her problem in their home country and her deteriorating health.
Her biological brother was discovered to be the ideal donor. On April 14th, a renal transplant was performed after all necessary tests were completed and all required undertakings and approvals were obtained. The donor nephrectomy was performed laparoscopically to avoid leaving a large scar on his body.
“The young girl was suffering from kidney failure, and her condition was deteriorating by the day. Fortunately, her own brother agreed to donate a kidney to her sister. We completed the transplant successfully. It was a challenging surgery where adult kidney was to be transplanted in such a young child due to small blood vessel and space in abdomen.,” says Dr. Vikas Agarwal, Director & Head Of Department, Urology, Urooncology and Kidney Transplant, Aakash Healthcare Hospital, Dwarka.
A man donating a kidney to a woman is uncommon, and a brother donating a kidney to his younger sister is even rarer. Mr. Kayumova, on the other hand, was adamant about saving his sister’s life.
Every year, 3-5 percent of babies are born with congenital kidney disease. Most of the time, the diagnosis is delayed, which further delays treatment. “Around 40% of young children with urinary tract infections have serious renal problems. All of this has a negative impact on the body’s normal functioning, and such children are unable to live a healthy life. The key to overcoming this illness is early detection,” says Dr. Neha Bhandari, Senior Consultant, Pediatric Nephrologist, Aakash Healthcare Hospital, Dwarka.
“For many years, I had witnessed my sister’s suffering. As her older brother, it was my responsibility to protect and save her, so I volunteered to donate my kidney. My sister would have done the same thing if she had been in my situation. I am relieved that she has recovered,” says Mr. Kayumova.
Lola has overcome all of the issues she had prior to the kidney transplant. Her kidneys are producing 3-4 litres of urine after surgery, and she will be able to live a normal life thanks to the efforts of the doctors at Aakash healthcare hospital.