In a heart-warming tale, cross-border harmony helped save the life of three-year-old Afghan national Hadia Nesari. A joint effort between Pakistan-based paediatric hepatologist Huma Cheema and the liver transplant team at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals gave a new lease of life to Hadia.
Dr. Cheema said: “Hadia had been unwell in Afghanistan for some time and was referred to my department at the Children’s Hospital in Lahore. She was seriously ill when she was admitted to the hospital. She had contracted chronic liver disease due to unknown causes. Despite best efforts, the disease became severe and the organ cirrhotic. Essentially, her liver was failing. The only option was liver transplant. I referred her to the Delhi hospital.”
Doctors in Pakistan counselled the family to opt for liver transplant. “The family broke down on hearing this since Hadia’s father is a teacher and could not afford the transplant,” she said.
Going above and beyond the call of duty, she decided to fund Hadia’s treatment. On its part, the hospital here subsidised the cost of treatment.
Anupam Sibal, group medical director and senior consultant, Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Apollo Hospitals, said: “We started the assessment for liver transplant immediately since Hadia needed one urgently. In about 20% of children who need liver transplant the cause cannot be identified, as was the case with Hadia. Once liver failure reaches the last stage, the only treatment is liver transplant.”
Neerav Goyal, senior consultant, liver transplant and hepatobiliary, Pancreatic Surgery Department, added, “Since a child’s blood vessels are very small, we had to be extra careful while planning the surgery. Her father Ahmed Fawad was the donor. Hadia underwent a successful 12-hour liver transplant last month. She is doing well.”
Expressing gratitude to Dr. Cheema, Mr. Fawad said, “There is nothing worse than watching your child suffer. By giving a new life to Hadia, doctors at the Delhi hospital have given a new life to my family. We will now go back to Afghanistan with fond memories of our time in India.”