Rare dual organ donation: A mother gives life to son for third times

In an extraordinary act of love and resilience, a 60-year-old mother has given her son the gift of life for the third time at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi.

The journey began in 1997 when she gave birth to her son. Years later, in 2015, when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver ailment, she stepped forward to donate a portion of her liver. The successful transplant, also performed at ILBS, allowed her son to enjoy a healthy life for nearly a decade.

However, unforeseen complications led to kidney failure, and he had to undergo regular dialysis. Undeterred, the mother once again proved to be his most willing and medically suitable donor. Remarkably fit even after her earlier liver donation, she was cleared to donate one of her kidneys.

The renal transplant team at ILBS, led by Dr. Abhiyutthan Singh Jadaon, performed a highly complex laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, overcoming challenges due to her previous major surgery. The recipient’s transplant was handled by a skilled team of nephrologists under the leadership of Dr. R. P. Mathur, navigating critical immunological hurdles, including rejection antibodies from the earlier liver transplant.

The transplant was successful, and the son was discharged after a 10-day recovery period.

The attached photo captures a powerful moment post-surgery, showing the donor, recipient, and members of the medical team — a testament to human spirit, medical excellence, and the life-saving impact of organ donation.

This rare and inspiring case — where a mother donated both liver and kidney to the same recipient a decade apart — stands as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the selfless acts behind every transplant.