Grandmother donates kidney to 8-year-old boy in Mumbai

Pranav Patil, 8, who suffered from chronic renal disease since birth, can lead a relatively normal life with his new transplanted kidney, donated by his grandmother.

“What is significant in this transplant is that Pranav weighs 15 kg. An adult kidney, nearly 10 inches, and a bigger vein of adult proportions, was transplanted. We have done transplants of patients weighing 20 kg, but not less. We had to remove his right kidney to make space for the donated kidney,” said Dr Shyam Joshi, urologist, Jaslok hospital.

Pranav’s condition was known to his parents when he was 14 months old. “His weight remained seven kg since he was 9 months old till about 14 months. When we got a urine and blood test done, protein was traced,” said his mother, Madhuri, 33.

Pranav was being treated by Dr KP Shah. This February, when his creatinine level was very high, Shah suggested that the family should get a healthy kidney transplanted into Pranav.

“What is important is that this is a pre-emptive transplant to escape dialysis. He will get better now,” said nephrologist, Dr Rushi Deshpande, Jaslok hospital.

“Though my daughter was eligible to donate her kidney, I donated mine. She is young and has a whole life ahead of her,” said Meerabai Shinde, 58.

On November 20, the surgery took place. “The child discharged 20 l of urine. We had to put him on 40 l of saline to balance the electrolytes in his body. He is stable now. His creatinine level has come down from 10 counts to 0.5 counts,” said Deshpande.