Weighing just 6.5 kg, Ram Mistry, a 14-month-old baby became the smallest baby to have undergone a liver transplant operation in Maharashtra. The child was grievously ill and was said to be suffering from biliary atresia, a rare disease characterised by absence of bile ducts in new born children. Symptoms of the disease appear or develop in two to eight weeks after the child is born.

The disease cannot be treated with medication and requires surgical intervention. In Ram’s case, however, biliary atresia had progressed to advanced liver cirrhosis within months of his birth. The problem was detected when the child couldn't eat food and kept vomiting. A surgery to join the child's bile duct to the liver didn't help and his condition deteriorated. That's when Ram was brought to Maharashtra for further treatment.  Since a transplant was seen as the only viable option to save him, the baby’s aunt donated a part of her own liver.

The Mistrys were guided by Mumbai-based NGO ‘Transplants – Help the Poor’ who made all the financial arrangements for the child’s surgery. They crowd funded a total of Rs. 22 lakhs for the surgery. Dr, Darius F Mirza, head of liver transplant, Apollo Hospital, Navi Mumbai said that the child needed a liver transplant very early. He also stated that the disease may not relapse, but the child will have to be given medications all his life.

The hospital also appreciated the gesture of the aunt, who gave away a part of her liver to save her nephew’s life. Usually, a family member or someone close to the patient can donate a part of their liver to the ailing person. Since liver tissue regenerates, after the transplant, the liver parts in the donor and the patient grows into a full organ.

While the family is overjoyed about the successful surgery, his mother, Ishani Mistry admits that it was a traumatic time for them, watching the child suffer so much at this tender age. She expressed her gratitude for everyone who saved her son’s life, from the NGO to her sister.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 06, 2018 09:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).