* Son loses 20 kg in four months and overcomes fatty liver disease to give his father a new lease on life.

* Initially deemed ineligible to donate due to severe fatty liver, the son became a suitable donor after making significant health improvements under expert medical supervision.

TIL Desk Lucknow:👉At ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, a son donated a portion of his liver to his father after losing approximately 20 kg in four months under the expert supervision of doctors. Ankush Singh (name changed), who was suffering from liver cirrhosis, needed a liver transplant. However, no suitable donor was available within his family.

His 24-year-old son came forward to donate a portion of his liver. However, weighing over 90 kg, he was found to have more than Grade 3 fatty liver during the initial evaluation. The doctors declared him unsuitable for donation at that stage.

With no other compatible donor available in the family, the son decided to improve his health. Following a specialised diet, regular medical evaluations and close supervision by doctors, he lost approximately 20 kg over four months. As his liver condition improved, he was declared fit to donate. With the help of his liver, the medical team successfully performed the transplant, giving his father a new lease on life. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the seventh or eighth day after surgery.

Doctors explained that the process also helped identify the son's underlying health condition in time. Had the fat accumulation in his liver gone undetected and he not worked to reduce his weight, his fatty liver condition could have worsened over the coming years and potentially progressed to cirrhosis. He might eventually have required a liver transplant himself.

The transplant was successfully performed by Dr. Abhishek Yadav, Head of Liver Transplant, ApolloMedics Hospital, Lucknow, and Dr. Utkarsh Srivastava, Consultant in Liver Transplant, along with their team.

According to Dr. Abhishek Yadav, Head of Liver Transplant at ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital, the patient had arrived at the hospital approximately six months earlier in an advanced stage of liver cirrhosis. He required a liver transplant, and his son was the only potential compatible donor in the family in terms of blood group.

However, the initial assessment revealed that the son's liver had more than Grade 3 fat accumulation. In this condition, he could not be accepted as a donor. The doctors advised the family to look for another potential donor, but despite considerable efforts, no other compatible donor could be found.

The son subsequently followed a specialised diet on medical advice and began regular follow-up consultations. To assess the level of fat in his liver and monitor the impact of the dietary changes, he underwent MRI scans four to five times. Gradually, his liver condition began to improve. Over approximately four months, he lost around 20 kg. Following a comprehensive medical evaluation, he was declared suitable for liver donation.

According to the doctors, he did not use any injections or medication to lose weight. His transformation was achieved through a specialised diet, regular follow-ups and medical supervision.

Dr. Abhishek Yadav said, “The effort made by the son to save his father's life is truly commendable. He was unaware that his liver had accumulated such a significant amount of fat. The condition was discovered during the medical evaluation when he came forward to donate a portion of his liver to his father.

“If the condition had not been detected in time, he too could have developed a serious problem such as liver cirrhosis in the coming years. Organ donation can save lives, but ensuring that the donor is healthy is equally important. In this case, we not only worked to improve the son's health but also ensured that he was medically fit to donate a portion of his liver safely.”

According to doctors, fatty liver often remains asymptomatic in its early stages. In this case, too, the son became aware of his condition only when he visited the hospital to donate a portion of his liver to his father.

If left unaddressed, fatty liver can lead to more serious complications in some patients, including liver inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight, following a balanced diet and undergoing medical examinations when necessary are important.

Dr. Mayank Somani, CEO and Managing Director of ApolloMedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, said, “In this case, the son resolved to improve his health to save his father's life and worked consistently towards that goal. Our medical team closely monitored every stage, from improving his health to determining his suitability for liver transplantation.

“It is important to raise public awareness about organ donation, as one person's donation can give another person a new lease on life and restore hope to an entire family.”