Malaysia

Miracle liver transplant for man on edge of death a first for UMMC

Universiti Malaya Medical Centre successfully performs surgery involving deceased donor on 54-year-old father

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 23 Oct 2021 1:00PM

Miracle liver transplant for man on edge of death a first for UMMC
On October 9, UMMC doctors where Baharudin Ayob was being treated identified an organ donor who was about to die in the same hospital, setting of the chain of events some have called a miracle. – Pixabay pic, October 23, 2021

by Arulldas Sinnappan

PETALING JAYA – Baharudin Ayob was on the verge of giving up all hope after attempts to get a new life-saving liver failed and the prospects of him surviving for long got slimmer.

It was then that, on October 9, doctors at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) where he was being treated identified an organ donor who was about to die in the same hospital. 

Presented with this opportunity to get the much needed liver transplant, Baharudin, 54, accepted it without hesitation. 

The procedure was conducted successfully the very next day.

The former oil palm harvester from Muar is now recuperating after being transferred to a normal ward last Sunday. 

Besides being the first deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) performed at UMMC, the surgery means the hospital is also the second DDLT centre in the country after Hospital Selayang.

Assoc Prof Dr Yoong Boon Koon, head of UMMC’s surgery division and a liver transplant surgeon, described the event as a miracle. 

“On October 9, we identified an organ donor in UMMC’s intensive care unit,” he told The Vibes.

Baharudin Ayob taking a video call from loved ones as he recuperates after surgery at UMMC’s intensive care unit. – The Vibes pic, October 23, 2021
Baharudin Ayob taking a video call from loved ones as he recuperates after surgery at UMMC’s intensive care unit. – The Vibes pic, October 23, 2021

“The National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC) was alerted and the transplant protocol was activated,” said the hepato-pancreatico-biliary consultant.

“The UMMC liver transplantation team was subsequently invited by NTRC to procure the liver. We organised the liver transplant team to perform the transplantation the next day.

“Thankfully, the whole team, including the surgeons, anaesthetist, hepatologist, intensivist, nurses and paramedics, was available, despite it being a Sunday, and the transplantation was able to proceed smoothly.”

Life-saving donation drive

For Baharudin, his health ordeal began when he suddenly lost weight and his family noticed his face turning yellowish in September last year.

Doctors had told him he had about six months left to live if no surgery is performed. His 7-year-old son was too young to donate his liver.

The family finally sought help from One Hope Charity to raise funds for the surgery.

The surgery fee was estimated to cost about RM120,000. The charity group launched a fundraising campaign in February and collected the amount in two days. 

“We raised the funds in two days and we informed the hospital to go ahead with the surgery,” said One Hope Charity chairman Datuk Chua Sui Hau.

Doctors had earlier this year thought of having Baharudin undergo a “living donor” liver transplant, with his own wife, Hazillah Hassan, being the organ donor.

Had Baharudin Ayob’s wife, Hazillah Hassan, been able to donate her liver to her husband, it would have been the country’s first liver transplant involving a living donor and biologically unrelated recipient. – Family pic, October 23, 2021
Had Baharudin Ayob’s wife, Hazillah Hassan, been able to donate her liver to her husband, it would have been the country’s first liver transplant involving a living donor and biologically unrelated recipient. – Family pic, October 23, 2021

However, although her liver was found to be a match for his body in January, the fact that she had fatty liver came with increased risks.

The surgery was postponed and Hazillah was advised to reduce her bodyweight.

“Unfortunately, despite his wife reducing her weight to an acceptable BMI (body mass index) level, the condition of her fatty liver did not improve, according to the biopsy results, and she was deemed unsuitable to be a donor,” Yoong said.

Had this transplant taken place successfully, it could have been the country’s first liver transplant involving a living donor and biologically unrelated recipient.

Hazillah, 46, a bank officer, said she was willing to donate her liver for her husband.

But when this was no longer an option, UMMC had referred Baharudin to Hospital Selayang for possible DDLT there.

In expressing her gratitude, Hazillah thanked UMMC’s management, Dr Yoong and One Hope Charity’s Chua for changing the family’s fortunes when all hope appeared to have been dashed.

“My husband was diagnosed with cirrhosis a year ago,” she told The Vibes. 

“He started experiencing symptoms such as vomiting blood, nausea, tiredness and jaundice. He was forced to quit his job.

“My husband is now recovering fast, and he has been transferred from the intensive care unit to a normal ward. I see him responding to the medication and hope he will be discharged soon to be with the family.

“With the help of the nurses, I managed to make video calls while he was in the ICU. He was unable to talk, but could listen to me while in bed.” – The Vibes, October 23, 2021

Related News

Malaysia / 2mth

House officer shortage: Med student-led body cautions of temporary protocol’s impact on healthcare sector

Malaysia / 2mth

MMA perplexed at continued housemen shortages, asks ministry to explain

Malaysia / 4mth

Zahid to rest after surgery

Malaysia / 1y

Sabah doctors pull off state’s first brain surgery on conscious patient

Off beat / 1y

‘You have lung cancer’ UK patients told in Xmas error

Sports & Fitness / 1y

S. Korea coach Bento confirms Son will be in World Cup squad

Spotlight

Events

UK alumni lauded for stellar achievements as British Council observes 75 years in Malaysia

Malaysia

Don’t let politicians, activists stir up hatred against KK Mart, PBK tells cops

By The Vibes Team

Malaysia

7.7 mil people registered in Padu, 2.5 mil cyberattacks, but not one success: Rafizi

By Stephen Then

Malaysia

Farewell Aunty Bersih, you will be missed

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Couple make two trips to workshop to find trapped kitten in car

Malaysia

KK Mart founder, director charged with wounding religious feelings of others over 'Allah' socks

By The Vibes Team

You may be interested

Malaysia

DOSM opens 300 extra counters as Padu registration deadline approaches

Malaysia

Blanket of red as tens of thousands of jellyfish washed ashore at KK beach

By The Vibes Team

Malaysia

Unfair for government to deny rakyat subsidies based on Padu registration, says SUPP youth

By Stephen Then

Malaysia

MCA Youth latest to condemn petrol bomb attack at KK Mart outlet

By The Vibes Team

Malaysia

MMEA team spots forest fire near school in Kuala Baram

By Stephen Then

Malaysia

Geologist pleads guilty to unlawfully ferrying gold residue

By Jason Santos

Malaysia

Sabah assistant minister invites Rafizi to work together on poverty eradication

By Jason Santos

Malaysia

King calls on all parties to stop fuelling anger over socks issue

By The Vibes Team