Latest news with #Zainab Al Yassi
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Aunt's heroic donation saves nephew as BMC performs UAE's youngest infant liver transplant
ABU DHABI: For Yahya and Zainab Al Yassi, World Organ Donation Day this year carries deeply personal meaning. Just a few months ago, their infant son, Baby Ahmed Yahya, faced a grim future, diagnosed with a rare genetic condition affecting his liver and other vital systems. Weighing just 4.4 kilograms and only five months old, Ahmed became the youngest infant in the UAE to undergo a successful liver transplant. The procedure was made possible by the extraordinary courage of a family member and the skill of a multidisciplinary team at Burjeel Medical City (BMC). The birth of Ahmed, the fifth child, was a moment of joy and hope for the family. He is the couple's first surviving boy after the tragic loss of another son, also named Ahmed in honour of his grandfather, who died in 2010 from liver disease. Hence, when the young Ahmed's liver enzyme levels rose shortly after birth, it raised concern. Though initially expected to stabilize, his condition quickly deteriorated. Doctors at BMC diagnosed him with an ATP6AP1-related congenital disorder of glycosylation, an ultra-rare genetic disorder with fewer than 25 known cases worldwide. 'This disease is a severe, multisystem condition that particularly affects the liver. In Ahmed's case, the disorder was progressing rapidly toward liver failure. Given the rarity of the condition, there were no clear answers, only tough questions. Yet we had to act,' said Dr. Johns Shaji Mathew, Abdominal Transplant and Hepato - Pancreatico - Biliary Surgeon at BMC. Because of the critical condition, the baby needed an urgent liver transplant and the family looked for a living donor to avoid any delay. As the medical team deliberated over the clinical complexity of performing a liver transplant on such a small child with an uncertain prognosis, hope arrived from within the family. The wife of his father's brother volunteered to be a living donor. Remarkably, she was a perfect match. 'I still remember the pain when we lost our first son to liver disease. When we heard our second son had a similar problem, I thought this was our destiny. But the doctors at BMC gave us new hope. And my sister-in-law, she gave us life again,' said Yahya, Ahmed's father. Ahmed's aunt, who had never considered organ donation before, dove into research and discussions with the transplant team. 'I read everything I could find. I realized that donating part of my liver could save his life, and I knew I had to do it. It's a bond that nothing in this world can break,' she said. The transplant was performed on April 4, 2025, in one of the most technically challenging pediatric surgeries ever conducted in the region. Led by Dr. Gourab Sen, Director - Transplant Surgery, Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Program & Dr. Johns Shaji Mathew, the team meticulously prepared a mono-segment graft from the donor's liver to fit the tiny abdominal cavity of the infant. Pediatric anesthesia was managed by Dr. Ramamurthy Baskaran, Division Chair of Anesthesia; Dr. George Jacob and Dr. Anshu S. The baby was managed perioperatively in the PICU by Dr. Kesava Ramakrishnan, Consultant, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and his team. 'This was a precision operation that lasted 12 hours, including the donor and the recipient surgery. We used a mono-segment graft, which is a tiny part of the donor's liver, and shaped it exactly to fit the baby's anatomy. In an infant this tiny, every structure is delicate beyond imagination, each vessel was thinner than a matchstick, and the margin for error was virtually zero. The surgery required not only technical expertise but constant focus, as we were working in millimeters, sometimes even fractions of a millimeter. It is not just a surgical procedure, it is micromillimeter craftsmanship performed under extreme pressure, with every member of the team synchronizing perfectly to keep the child stable throughout,' said Dr. Gourab. Despite the high-risk nature of the operation and the child's fragile condition, the surgery was a success. Baby Ahmed was extubated soon, began feeding within days, and showed excellent liver function. His recovery was carefully supported by a multidisciplinary team including pediatric intensivists, gastroenterologists, dietitians, radiologists, and rehabilitation experts, showcasing the depth of BMC's tertiary and quaternary care infrastructure. What makes this case exceptional is not just the age and weight of the patient, but the rare genetic diagnosis and the global scarcity of successful transplants in such cases. Ahmed now joins a handful of survivors worldwide who have overcome this ultra-rare condition through transplantation. 'Each decision we made involved balancing scientific uncertainty with human life. The courage of the family and the coordination of every department at BMC made this miracle possible,' said Dr. Gourab. Today, Baby Ahmed is growing steadily. His liver function continues to improve, and his neurodevelopmental milestones are being closely monitored. Under the long-term care program, he receives specialized nutritional support, immune monitoring, and family counseling. As the world marks World Organ Donation Day, Yahya reflects on their journey with deep emotion and gratitude: 'My baby's recovery is nothing short of a miracle. We were once a family living in fear of losing another child, but today, we are celebrating a second chance at life. I hope our story inspires others to come forward, to learn more, and to consider becoming donors. You never know whose life you might change." The HAYAT National Program invites the public to learn more about related living organ donation, where a healthy person donates to a family member in need. This life-saving act can shorten waiting times and transform lives. Speak with your healthcare provider and discover how you can give the gift of life.
The National
3 days ago
- Health
- The National
'Nothing short of a miracle': Baby Ahmed youngest in UAE to get liver transplant
A five-month-old Emirati boy has become the youngest in the country to receive a liver transplant after an aunt's lifesaving donation. Ahmed Yahya's liver was failing because of a rare genetic condition. As doctors appealed for a suitable living donor, time was running out for Ahmed until his 36-year-old aunt volunteered to help. Parents Yahya and Zainab Al Yassi had experienced tragedy before, when their first son succumbed to a similar condition. Ahmed's fight depended on the good fortune of finding a genetic match to ensure his 4.4kg body would not reject a donor organ. Now, to mark World Organ Donation Day on August 13, Ahmed's family and the doctors are talking about the operations that saved his life. 'I still remember the pain when we lost our first son to liver disease,' said Mr Al Yassi. 'When we heard our second son had a similar problem, I thought this was our destiny. But the doctors gave us new hope. And my sister-in-law, she gave us life again. My baby's recovery is nothing short of a miracle.' Unbreakable bond Ahmed's aunt, who had never considered becoming a donor, immersed herself in research and discussions with the transplant team. 'I read everything I could find,' she said. 'I realised that donating part of my liver could save his life, and I knew I had to do it. It's a bond that nothing in this world can break.' Doctors first raised concern when they recorded high liver enzymes shortly after Ahmed was born. Doctors at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) diagnosed him with an ATP6AP1-related congenital disorder of glycosylation, a disorder so rare there are fewer than 25 known cases worldwide. Ahmed's aunt – the wife of his father's brother – volunteered and discovered she was a perfect match. Doctors rushed both to surgery. Ahmed, and his brother, were named in honour of their grandfather, who died in 2010 from liver disease. As Ahmed was so young, the procedure proved to be one of the most technically challenging paediatric surgeries conducted in the Gulf region, said doctors who performed the surgery in April. 'This disease is a severe, multisystem condition that particularly affects the liver,' said Dr Johns Shaji Mathew, abdominal transplant and hepato pancreatico biliary surgeon at BMC. 'In Ahmed's case, the disorder was progressing rapidly towards liver failure. Given the rarity of the condition, there were no clear answers, only tough questions. Yet we had to act.' Rare condition Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) affect the healthy function of cells. A chemical malfunction results in a number of serious health problems such as liver disease, abnormal bleeding, seizures and heart problems. Doctors prepared a graft from the donor to fit Ahmed. In total, the complex surgery took 12 hours. Despite the high-risk nature of the operation and the boy's fragile condition, the surgery was a success. Ahmed began feeding within days, and his liver function was excellent. He now belongs to about two dozen survivors through transplantation. 'In an infant this tiny, every structure is delicate beyond imagination, each vessel was thinner than a matchstick, and the margin for error was virtually zero,' said Dr Gourab Sen, director of transplant surgery at the Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Programme. 'The surgery required not only technical expertise but constant focus, as we were working in millimetres, sometimes even fractions of a millimetre. 'It is not just a surgical procedure, it is micromillimetre craftsmanship performed under extreme pressure, with every member of the team synchronising perfectly to keep the child stable throughout.' Since the launch of Hayat – the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue – in 2017, a total of 1,090 organ transplants have been performed across the Emirates until 2024, with 290 during the past year alone. The 2024 list included seven heart transplants, 142 kidney transplants, 117 liver transplants, 22 lung transplants, and two pancreas transplants. Inspirational story These achievements are made possible by four leading transplant centres, including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Burjeel Medical City (BMC), and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). Mr Al Yassi said he hoped his son's success may encourage more people to consider becoming organ donors. 'We were once a family living in fear of losing another child, but now we are celebrating a second chance at life,' he said. 'I hope our story inspires others to come forward, to learn more, and to consider becoming donors. You never know whose life you might change.'
The National
3 days ago
- Health
- The National
UAE 'miracle' match baby Ahmed's life saved by liver donation from aunt
A five-month-old Emirati boy has become the youngest in the country to receive a liver transplant after an aunt's lifesaving donation. Ahmed Yahya's liver was failing because of a rare genetic condition. As doctors appealed for a suitable living donor, time was running out for Ahmed until his 36-year-old aunt volunteered to help. Parents Yahya and Zainab Al Yassi had experienced tragedy before, when their first son succumbed to a similar condition. Ahmed's fight depended on the good fortune of finding a genetic match to ensure his 4.4kg body would not reject a donor organ. Now, to mark World Organ Donation Day on August 13, Ahmed's family and the doctors are talking about the operations that saved his life. 'I still remember the pain when we lost our first son to liver disease,' said Mr Al Yassi. 'When we heard our second son had a similar problem, I thought this was our destiny. But the doctors gave us new hope. And my sister-in-law, she gave us life again. My baby's recovery is nothing short of a miracle.' Unbreakable bond Ahmed's aunt, who had never considered becoming a donor, immersed herself in research and discussions with the transplant team. 'I read everything I could find,' she said. 'I realised that donating part of my liver could save his life, and I knew I had to do it. It's a bond that nothing in this world can break.' Doctors first raised concern when they recorded high liver enzymes shortly after Ahmed was born. Doctors at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) diagnosed him with an ATP6AP1-related congenital disorder of glycosylation, a disorder so rare there are fewer than 25 known cases worldwide. Ahmed's aunt – the wife of his father's brother – volunteered and discovered she was a perfect match. Doctors rushed both to surgery. Ahmed, and his brother, were named in honour of their grandfather, who died in 2010 from liver disease. As Ahmed was so young, the procedure proved to be one of the most technically challenging paediatric surgeries conducted in the Gulf region, said doctors who performed the surgery in April. 'This disease is a severe, multisystem condition that particularly affects the liver,' said Dr Johns Shaji Mathew, abdominal transplant and hepato pancreatico biliary surgeon at BMC. 'In Ahmed's case, the disorder was progressing rapidly towards liver failure. Given the rarity of the condition, there were no clear answers, only tough questions. Yet we had to act.' Rare condition Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) affect the healthy function of cells. A chemical malfunction results in a number of serious health problems such as liver disease, abnormal bleeding, seizures and heart problems. Doctors prepared a graft from the donor to fit Ahmed. In total, the complex surgery took 12 hours. Despite the high-risk nature of the operation and the boy's fragile condition, the surgery was a success. Ahmed began feeding within days, and his liver function was excellent. He now belongs to about two dozen survivors through transplantation. 'In an infant this tiny, every structure is delicate beyond imagination, each vessel was thinner than a matchstick, and the margin for error was virtually zero,' said Dr Gourab Sen, director of transplant surgery at the Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Programme. 'The surgery required not only technical expertise but constant focus, as we were working in millimetres, sometimes even fractions of a millimetre. 'It is not just a surgical procedure, it is micromillimetre craftsmanship performed under extreme pressure, with every member of the team synchronising perfectly to keep the child stable throughout.' Since the launch of Hayat – the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue – in 2017, a total of 1,090 organ transplants have been performed across the Emirates until 2024, with 290 during the past year alone. The 2024 list included seven heart transplants, 142 kidney transplants, 117 liver transplants, 22 lung transplants, and two pancreas transplants. Inspirational story These achievements are made possible by four leading transplant centres, including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Burjeel Medical City (BMC), and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). Mr Al Yassi said he hoped his son's success may encourage more people to consider becoming organ donors. 'We were once a family living in fear of losing another child, but now we are celebrating a second chance at life,' he said. 'I hope our story inspires others to come forward, to learn more, and to consider becoming donors. You never know whose life you might change.'
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: 5-month-old battling rare disease saved with liver donated by aunt
At a hospital in Abu Dhabi, a young aunt leaned over her five-month-old nephew, kissing his forehead gently, knowing that in a few hours, a part of her liver would be functioning inside his tiny body. Baby Ahmed Yahya, weighing just 4.4 kilograms, lighter than a small bag of rice, was hospitalised, and his liver was failing fast. His parents, Yahya and Zainab Al Yassi, had already buried one son to the same illness, and losing another was unthinkable. 'I told myself, if I can be his chance, then I must,' said his aunt. 'It's a bond nothing can break.' For the parents of Ahmed, World Organ Donation Day this year is more than a date on the calendar. It's a reminder of the day their family's future changed forever. Ahmed's illness was progressing, threatening to shut down his liver and other vital systems. The diagnosis, ATP6AP1-related congenital disorder of glycosylation, is so rare that fewer than 25 cases have been recorded globally. For the Al Yassi family, the news was not only shocking but painful. Ahmed was the couple's fifth child and their first surviving boy after losing another son, also named Ahmed, in 2010 to liver disease. 'When doctors told us about his condition, I felt like history was repeating itself,' said Yahya. 'The pain of losing our first son came flooding back.' Finding a donor Initially, doctors hoped Ahmed's liver enzyme levels would stabilise after birth, but his condition deteriorated as days passed. At Burjeel Medical City (BMC), a team led by Dr Johns Shaji Mathew, an abdominal transplant and hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgeon, explained the urgency of the situation. 'This disease is a severe, multisystem condition that particularly affects the liver. In Ahmed's case, it was moving towards complete liver failure,' Dr Mathew said. 'Given its rarity, there were no straightforward guidelines, only complex decisions to make under pressure. But we knew one thing for sure — he needed a transplant without delay.' For a child so small, time was the most critical factor. Waiting for a deceased donor could take too long. The only viable option was a living donor transplant. As the medical team considered the clinical challenges of operating on an infant of Ahmed's size and condition, they found a donor within the family. The wife of Yahya's brother volunteered to be tested as a potential donor and she turned out to be a perfect match. 'I had never thought seriously about organ donation before,' she said. 'But when I learned that part of my liver could save him, I didn't hesitate. I read everything I could about the surgery, asked the doctors every question I had, and decided to go ahead.' Surgery of millimeters On April 4, 2025, BMC's multidisciplinary transplant team undertook the challenging pediatric surgeries performed in the region. Led by Dr Gourab Sen, director of transplant surgery, and Dr Mathew, the operation required extreme precision. 'This was a precision operation that lasted 12 hours, including both donor and recipient surgeries,' said Dr Sen. 'We used a mono-segment graft, a very small portion of the donor's liver and shaped it exactly to fit the infant's anatomy. In a baby this tiny, every blood vessel is thinner than a matchstick, and we are working not in millimeters, but fractions of a millimeter. The margin for error is zero.' Supporting the surgeons were pediatric anesthesia specialists Dr Ramamurthy Baskaran, Dr George Jacob, and Dr Anshu S., alongside pediatric intensive care consultant Dr Kesava Ramakrishnan and his team. Every stage of the procedure, from preparing the graft to connecting the delicate vessels, required flawless coordination. Recovery The surgery was a success. Ahmed was extubated soon after, began feeding within days, and showed excellent liver function. His recovery was closely managed by pediatric intensivists, gastroenterologists, dietitians, radiologists, and rehabilitation experts. 'What makes Ahmed's case remarkable is not just his age and weight, but also the rarity of his diagnosis and the scarcity of successful transplants in such cases worldwide,' said Dr Sen. 'Each decision required balancing scientific uncertainty with the value of human life. The courage of his family and our team work made this possible.' Ahmed now joins a small number of children worldwide who have survived this very rare condition through transplantation. He continues to receive specialized nutritional support, immune monitoring, and family counseling. His developments are also being tracked closely. For Yahya, the outcome feels nothing short of miraculous. 'We went from fearing we would lose another son to celebrating his recovery,' he said. 'My sister-in-law gave us life again. I hope our story encourages more people to consider becoming donors. You never know whose life you could save.'
The National
3 days ago
- Health
- The National
'Miracle' match baby Ahmed's life saved by liver donation from aunt
A five-month-old Emirati boy has become the youngest in the country to receive a liver transplant after an aunt's lifesaving donation. Ahmed Yahya's liver was failing because of a rare genetic condition. As doctors appealed for a suitable living donor, time was running out for Ahmed until his 36-year-old aunt volunteered to help. Parents Yahya and Zainab Al Yassi had experienced tragedy before, when their first son succumbed to a similar condition. Ahmed's fight depended on the good fortune of finding a genetic match to ensure his 4.4kg body would not reject a donor organ. Now, to mark World Organ Donation Day on August 13, Ahmed's family and the doctors are talking about the operations that saved his life. 'I still remember the pain when we lost our first son to liver disease,' said Mr Al Yassi. 'When we heard our second son had a similar problem, I thought this was our destiny. But the doctors gave us new hope. And my sister-in-law, she gave us life again. My baby's recovery is nothing short of a miracle.' Unbreakable bond Ahmed's aunt, who had never considered becoming a donor, immersed herself in research and discussions with the transplant team. 'I read everything I could find,' she said. 'I realised that donating part of my liver could save his life, and I knew I had to do it. It's a bond that nothing in this world can break.' Doctors first raised concern when they recorded high liver enzymes shortly after Ahmed was born. Doctors at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) diagnosed him with an ATP6AP1-related congenital disorder of glycosylation, a disorder so rare there are fewer than 25 known cases worldwide. Ahmed's aunt – the wife of his father's brother – volunteered and discovered she was a perfect match. Doctors rushed both to surgery. Ahmed, and his brother, were named in honour of their grandfather, who died in 2010 from liver disease. As Ahmed was so young, the procedure proved to be one of the most technically challenging paediatric surgeries conducted in the Gulf region, said doctors who performed the surgery in April. 'This disease is a severe, multisystem condition that particularly affects the liver,' said Dr Johns Shaji Mathew, abdominal transplant and hepato pancreatico biliary surgeon at BMC. 'In Ahmed's case, the disorder was progressing rapidly towards liver failure. Given the rarity of the condition, there were no clear answers, only tough questions. Yet we had to act.' Rare condition Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) affect the healthy function of cells. A chemical malfunction results in a number of serious health problems such as liver disease, abnormal bleeding, seizures and heart problems. Doctors prepared a graft from the donor to fit Ahmed. In total, the complex surgery took 12 hours. Despite the high-risk nature of the operation and the boy's fragile condition, the surgery was a success. Ahmed began feeding within days, and his liver function was excellent. He now belongs to about two dozen survivors through transplantation. 'In an infant this tiny, every structure is delicate beyond imagination, each vessel was thinner than a matchstick, and the margin for error was virtually zero,' said Dr Gourab Sen, director of transplant surgery at the Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Programme. 'The surgery required not only technical expertise but constant focus, as we were working in millimetres, sometimes even fractions of a millimetre. 'It is not just a surgical procedure, it is micromillimetre craftsmanship performed under extreme pressure, with every member of the team synchronising perfectly to keep the child stable throughout.' Since the launch of Hayat – the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue – in 2017, a total of 1,090 organ transplants have been performed across the Emirates until 2024, with 290 during the past year alone. The 2024 list included seven heart transplants, 142 kidney transplants, 117 liver transplants, 22 lung transplants, and two pancreas transplants. Inspirational story These achievements are made possible by four leading transplant centres, including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Burjeel Medical City (BMC), and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). Mr Al Yassi said he hoped his son's success may encourage more people to consider becoming organ donors. 'We were once a family living in fear of losing another child, but now we are celebrating a second chance at life,' he said. 'I hope our story inspires others to come forward, to learn more, and to consider becoming donors. You never know whose life you might change.'
