Photo: A defender's son received a kidney transplant under extremely difficult circumstances
Ukrainian doctors performed a kidney transplant on a boy who has a complex of serious medical conditions and has been battling severe illnesses since childhood. Initially, the child’s father—a military serviceman—was supposed to be the donor, but during preparations for the surgery, he was diagnosed with cancer. After that, the doctors made a different decision regarding the transplant.
We continue to share the story of our brave patient—15-year-old Andriy from Kryvyi Rih. In the spring, the boy underwent successful surgery performed by orthopedic trauma surgeons at St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital; now our transplant surgeons have transplanted a kidney into him, and he still has neurosurgery ahead of him.
Andriy was born with a heart defect. At age 5, he was diagnosed with a congenital brain disorder—Chiari syndrome. At age 14, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure, which led to calcium depletion, extreme bone fragility, and a femoral neck fracture. The boy, who was then put on hemodialysis, could have been left bedridden. To prevent this, our specialists used an innovative bone fusion technology—unique to Ukraine—involving the injection of stem cells. And they managed to get Andriy back on his feet.
But this did not solve the main problem—the boy needed a transplant as soon as possible. His father, a soldier, was to be the donor, despite multiple injuries in the past. He was a suitable match. However, during the examination, specialists at the First Medical Association of Lviv delivered devastating news: the man had been diagnosed with cancer, and he would not be able to save his son. This news completely devastated the family.
Andriy’s mother, Natalia, was in despair until one evening she received a call: “You have 20 minutes to get ready! A kidney donor has been found for your son.” There was barely enough time to travel from Kryvyi Rih to Lviv for the transplant.
“Twenty minutes later, we were already in the car, dressed in whatever we had on. We flew through the 12-hour drive from Kryvyi Rih in a single breath; the police even stopped us twice. But when the officers found out we were rushing to surgery where a kidney was waiting for us, they simply wished us luck and let us go,” recalls his mother, Natalia, of that fateful night.
And they made it in time! Andriy was taken straight to the operating room upon arrival. The kidney transplant from a deceased donor lasted about 6 hours and was successful.
Andriy is feeling much better now. Once he has recovered, he will have a consultation with our neurosurgeons and undergo brain surgery. Meanwhile, the boy’s father is undergoing treatment for cancer. But after everything they’ve been through and so many victories, this family knows for sure that they must have faith and keep fighting. And we sincerely wish them victory over all their illnesses.
“This child is proof that even the most complex set of diagnoses is not a death sentence if you set the right priorities and work as a team,” concludes Lilia Hrytskiv, head of the transplant unit.
We thank the family of the deceased donor for this chance for Andriy.
Source: St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital
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