“No matter how hard life is, don’t lose hope.” The phrase seems to be the motto of Etika Kalra, a resident of Delhi, who recently underwent a third kidney transplant at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. “This time her husband donated his kidney to save her life even though their blood groups did not match,” stated a release issued by the hospital.

According to the hospital, in 1996, when Ms. Kalra was 23 years old and recently married, she found out during a routine check-up that her kidneys were shrinking. She was diagnosed with Glomerulonephritis, a type of disease in which the part of kidney which filters blood [called glomeruli] gets damaged. “Since then I have been constantly fighting a battle with this disease. Initially I explored various Ayurvedic treatments, but there was no relief and the creatinine levels in my blood continued to rise,” said Ms. Kalra.

In December 2000, she had to start regular dialysis as her kidneys were no longer functioning properly.

First transplant

Ms. Kalra underwent her first transplant in 2001 when her elder sister, Anshoo Walia, donated her kidney. For more than a decade the donated kidney served her well, but the life of such organs is limited. By 2014, Ms. Kalra again started facing kidney problems.

“By the time we found out that her first kidney was failing, it was too late to start dialysis again. Her health was deteriorating fast and so we opted for a pre-emptive transplant. This time, her other sister, Ritu Pahwa, donated a kidney,” said Dr. Sandeep Guleria, senior consultant, general surgery, GI surgery and transplantation, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.

Explaining the procedure and the unexpected complications which arose after the second transplant, Dr. Guleria said: “Etika was still in the ICU when she started complaining of severe stomach pain. It was found that she had gangrene of intestine for which we had to do an immediate major abdominal surgery to save her life. This was while she was still recovering from her second kidney transplant and it made her quite weak.”

Second procedure

The second kidney was functional only for about four years after which it started failing. “It was a case of acute antibody rejection of the transplanted organ, in which the patient’s own immune system started attacking the kidney. There were only two viable options for her at that time — either live on dialysis for the rest of her life or undergo another kidney transplant,” explained the doctor.

The patient chose the latter and this time her husband, Tarun, came forward to donate his kidney. The family was counselled about the difficulties and the added pressure of blood groups not matching.

Third challenge

“The third transplant took five and a half hours since it was technically more difficult. We successfully overcame that barrier and transplanted the third kidney,” stated the release.

The patient, according to the hospital, is now doing well. “Even after the third transplant, the precautions I have to take are the same as before. The food I eat has to be hygienic and freshly prepared. Eating outside should be avoided, and it is essential to take medicines on time,” Ms. Kalra said.