In a heartwarming display of cross-border collaboration and medical expertise, doctors raced against time to transport a liver from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi to save the life of Nur, a 43-year-old Indonesian expat residing in the UAE. Nur, who had been living in the country for 14 years and working for an Emirati family, suddenly developed acute liver injury that rapidly progressed to acute fulminant liver failure.
With no local donors available, a GCC-wide alert was issued, and a compatible liver was identified in Kuwait. Within a 48-hour window, Burjeel Medical City, National Centre for Organ Donation and Transplant at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), and other regional entities came together to facilitate this life-saving procedure.
Nur’s family, upon learning about her condition, flew to Abu Dhabi to support her during this critical time. „We were totally shocked when we learned about her condition,“ said Laelatul Fitri, Nur’s sister. „All we could do is pray for her. When we heard about the donor, we were immensely grateful to them.“
Dr. Rehan Saif, director of Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Program, explained the emergency nature of Nur’s case and the challenges faced in managing acute liver failure. Patients with this condition are at risk of severe complications such as jaundice, bleeding, encephalopathy, infections, and multi-organ failure.
As Nur’s condition worsened, Burjeel Medical City initiated an urgent search for a liver donor. With no suitable donors available in the UAE, the search expanded to the entire GCC region. A compatible liver was eventually located in Kuwait, thanks to the generosity of a brain-dead donor’s family who made the life-saving decision to donate the organ.
The logistics of transporting the liver from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi were nothing short of cinematic. Dr. Gourab Sen flew to Kuwait to retrieve the donor’s liver, while a specialized medical team in Abu Dhabi prepared Nur for the complex transplant surgery. A private charter aircraft was arranged to transport the liver, and the surgical team at Burjeel Medical City successfully performed the transplant.
The operation, including the retrieval and transplantation, took approximately 14 hours from start to finish. Post-transplant, Nur has recovered well and has been discharged for follow-up consultations. The Emirati family where she worked played a crucial role in ensuring she received immediate medical attention and support.
„We are thankful to Almighty Allah for the blessing and that my sister can lead a healthy life now. We are also very thankful to the Emirati family who considered her as their own,“ said Fitri. The collaborative efforts of the medical professionals and agencies involved in Nur’s care have been commendable, and her family is grateful for the support and care she received.
In a world where borders often separate us, this story serves as a reminder of the power of unity and compassion in saving lives. Nur’s journey from acute liver failure to recovery is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the medical teams involved, as well as the selflessness of the donor’s family. It is a story of hope, resilience, and the unwavering human spirit in the face of adversity.