Jalpa Shah with her brother Jatin
Ahmedabad: It started with typhoid and jaundice for Jalpa Shah (38), a resident of Modasa, in January this year. Her younger brother Jatin (32) stepped up — but his liver was found too fatty to be donated. In a matter of 1.5 months, he lost about 12 kg. The transplant took place in Ahmedabad on June 25,” he said. At the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), the biggest govt-run medical facility for kidney and liver diseases in Gujarat, figures from the past five years indicate that 45 sisters donated organs to brothers. In contrast, only eight brothers gave organs to sisters, translating into a ratio of about 1:5. In another instance, Dharmishtha Patel (44), a resident of Unjha, received a liver from her younger brother Bhavesh Patel (34), a resident of Visnagar, in a procedure in July 2023.
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Tejas Shah, Jalpa’s husband and Jatin’s brother-in-law, told TOI that Jatin’s reports showed elevated blood pressure and fatty liver, but without much complications. “They commended his spirit, but told him that he was overweight. Being a sibling, his was a good match, and we are indebted to him for life for his initiative,” he said. Dr Chirag Desai, liver transplant surgeon who performed the transplant at Apollo Hospital, said Jalpa suffers from a rare autoimmune hepatitis. But it is heartening to see that the trend is changing,” he said. Sunil Patel, husband of Dharmishtha Patel, said his wife suffered from liver cirrhosis. Bhavesh volunteered to donate part of his liver,” he said. “The siblings have shared a strong bond since childhood, and his donating a part of his liver is only a testament to their love,” said Patel. Dr Anand Khakhar, senior liver transplant surgeon with Zydus Hospital, said counselling is needed in each case where families are taken into confidence. Way forward to improve the ratio is through collective efforts by the healthcare sector and families,” he said.
Hospitalisation and several medical reports later, Jalpa was diagnosed with third- stage liver cirrhosis. When the medicines did not work, the doctors suggested liver transplant to save her life. To donate liver and match criteria, he must shed some kilos. Jatin took it as a challenge and hit the gym along with a strict diet. His reports came back clean and he donated part of his liver to Jalpa. Tejas added that he considers Jatin as God-sent. “Long waiting list cadaver organ donation could have compromised her critical condition. “Overwhelmingly it is women who donate organs to men. “Medicines failed to work and transplant was mandated. Download the TOI App.
“Earlier, men got organs from women but now the scenario is slowly transforming.
Two months later, both Jalpa and Jatin are leading normal lives and will be celebrating Rakshabandhan , the festival of love between brother and sister, with more than sweets and gifts — a gift of life.