Abeer Hassan Al Issa is a girl in her twenties who had fully recovered from chronic renal failure after undergoing a monitored and up-close treatment plan by a specialized medical team at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Al-Ahsa post a kidney transplant operation. Abeer’s mother donated her kidney so she can live a normal life after living many years in pain and unstable health.
The medical team discovered the chronic renal failure when Abeer was 12 years old as a result of a kidney inflammation, she was monitored for two years but she was diagnosed with this disease at a very late stage where both kidneys were already atrophied. She later went through normal treatment procedures until the disease reached an advanced stage.
Dr. Badri Ibrahim Abdel Kader a consultant nephrologist and head of the medical team at King Abdulaziz hospital said "the patient was given two options, either Hemodialysis or Peritoneal dialysis, she preferred the latter with the encouragement of the medical team, given this decision allowed her to live a normal life and she was able to return to school”.
The patient continued the peritoneal dialysis for three years on a regular basis without complications during which her father asked to donate his kidney but was unable to due to blood type, however, her mother was a match and donated her kidney.
This case serves as an example to remove many concerns related to kidney donation and kidney transplant procedures and to emphasize the humanity and effectiveness of this type of operation. Dr. Abdel Kader emphasized that “as doctors we do not find any harm or complications that can affect the donor if he/she meet the requirements and pass all medical tests and check ups.”
This is one case of too many patients who are waiting for donors, however, society stereotypes still pose an obstacle which is a great misconception that needs to be overcome.