UAE | Health

Valentine couple's wait for kidney ends

Husband to receive wife's organ as a gift and she looks forward to Haj together.

  • By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:53 March 6, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Fatima Baig Mirza is donating her kidney to her husband Mohammad Abdul Hadi as a belated Valentine's Day gift.
  • Image Credit: Nina Muslim/Gulf News

Dubai: Valentine couple Fatima Baig Mirza and Mohammad Abdul Hadi, so-called because she wanted to donate him her kidney as a Valentine's Day gift, will undergo the kidney transplant surgery on Thursday.

The surgery will be Al Qassimi Hospital's second procedure under its new renal transplant programme and its first adult case. The first surgery on Friday involved a 12-year-old Pakistani boy, Nabeel Kamran, whose kidneys failed due to Alport's Syndrome, a genetic disorder.

Fatima told Gulf News she was excited about the surgery, which comes after one and a half year's wait.

"No way I'm scared because I believe people will die [at their pre-ordained time]. If I go before my husband does, at least one part of me will live on in him," she said.

She added the surgery was the only option for them to have more time together as "I cannot see myself living on without him".

The same team, comprising specialists from Welcare Hospital, Prof Kamal Abu Sin, a transplant surgeon from UK, and supported by Al Qassimi Hospital staff will perform the procedure.

Dr Alan Sandford, CEO and chief medical officer at Al Qassimi Hospital, told Gulf News everything was in place for the procedure.

"We have double-checked and triple-checked. We are absolutely committed to making the programme go off without a hitch," he said. "There is always a risk of complications with surgeries. Our aim is to minimise it as much as possible."

One of the concerns the hospital will have to deal with include the pre and post-operative care for the patient and the donor.

Recovery is not the foremost concern to Fatima. The teacher is full with plans for her and her husband. "There was some talk about a second honeymoon, but I want to go for Haj. We could never do it before because of his dialysis.

Dubai Nabeel Kamran, the 12-year old boy who underwent the UAE's first child kidney transplant on Friday at Al Qassimi Hospital, is expected to be discharged today, his father said.

The Pakistani boy is in the Intensive Care Unit at the Sharjah hospital.

Kamran Qureshi, his father, told Gulf News home is best for Nabeel's recovery.

"He'll most likely be discharged [today] because the doctor doesn't want him to be exposed to any hospital-acquired infections", because his immunity is currently compromised due to the anti-rejection drugs he is taking, he said.

Dr. Alan Sandford, CEO of the hospital, did not confirm the discharge but said Nabeel was well enough to transfer to the general paediatric ward.

"He had a few post-operative complications - some bleeding. But he is up and walking about now," he said. Nabeel's aunt, who donated the kidney, had a "perfect recovery" and has been discharged.

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