JEDDAH, 10 October 2007 — A liver transplant, described as the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, has enabled 11-year-old Zainab to enjoy a lifetime of bliss.
Zainab was born with a liver congenital defect. This caused her liver malfunction and led to a decrease in the blood sugar level associated with a weak immunity that prevented Zainab from having a normal life as a child.
“Zainab suffered from the disease for 11 years. We took her to different doctors and all of them said there her survival chances were minimal as the disease reached serious stages,” Zainab’s father Ibrahim Kaheel said.
“Her liver was almost damaged. The only alternative was to go through the difficult process of a liver transplantation, which requires more advanced medical equipment.
“This made us consider traveling to China in a desperate attempt to raise donation to cover the cost for the liver transplant, which is estimated at SR600,000.
“We, however, refrained from traveling. It then just occurred to us that we should consult Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospita,” said Kaheel.
An analysis at the hospital showed that Zainab’s mother could donate part of her liver as she fulfilled all the required conditions for donation. Both Zainab and her mother thus underwent surgery.
“And we started noticing that Zainab was recovering and her appetite growing. We also notice a change in her activity and psychological behavior,” Kaheel said.
According to Dr. Nabil Nizam Aldeen, consultant organ transplant and telescope surgery, head of kidney and liver transplant program at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Zainab’s surgery is successful and it looks as though she is born again.
“It will take her three months of recovery period and intensive care after which Zainab can become a normal child and finally attend school and play with other kids without any risks or medical cautions.” Dr. Aldeen said.
“Zainab’s case was the first of its type in the Kingdom, in fact, and the analysis and anatomy study showed that her mother’s compatibility and ability to donate part of her liver.
The operation, which took 10 hours to transplant two lobes from the liver of Zainab’s mother, is considered to be one of most complex surgeries due to the high level of risk that here damaged liver is suffering with Von Gerke’s disease.”
Such an operation is not possible without the most advanced equipment and high medical standards, starting from the operation room to the blood bank, and the analysis techniques to the intensive care unit, he added “Both Zainab and her mother are now enjoying a healthy condition with no signs of post-surgery complications,” Nabil said.
