Imran Khan, an Indian expat in the UAE, made the ultimate sacrifice to save his daughter Razia who was suffering from a rare genetic liver condition. In a groundbreaking 12-hour surgery at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi, Imran donated a portion of his liver for a living-donor paediatric liver transplant. The surgery was successful, marking a historical moment for the UAE.
Razia was diagnosed with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC), a rare genetic liver condition that causes liver damage. Imran and his wife had lost their first daughter to the same condition, so when Razia started showing symptoms at just three months old, they knew they had to act fast. The doctors at BMC recommended a liver transplant as the best option for Razia.
The decision to become a donor was an easy one for Imran, who didn’t want to lose another child and wanted to keep his wife safe as well. The transplant team at BMC, led by Dr Rehan Saif, performed the surgery successfully, making it the first paediatric liver transplant in the UAE. The young patient and her donor father made excellent recoveries and were discharged from the hospital two weeks after the surgery.
Before the transplant, Razia’s condition had prevented her from attending nursery and achieving age-appropriate growth milestones. Now, with the successful surgery behind her, Razia is on the road to recovery and preparing for school. Imran is proud of his daughter’s resilience and strength, and the family is grateful for the surgery that has brought them relief and hope for a normal childhood for Razia.
The medical team at BMC, including Dr Rehan and other specialists, played a crucial role in the successful outcome of the surgery. Imran is thankful to everyone involved in the process and is proud to be a part of the UAE’s medical history. Razia is recovering well, playing with her siblings, and enjoying a normal, happy childhood, thanks to the life-saving gift of a liver donation from her father.
The story of Imran and Razia is a powerful testament to the strength of parental love and the miracles of modern medicine. The successful living-donor paediatric liver transplant at BMC has set a new standard for medical care in the UAE, providing hope and healing to families facing similar challenges. Imran’s selfless act of donation has given his daughter a second chance at life, and their story is an inspiration to all who hear it.
