Donated kidney gives young girl a chance at normal life

"My dream is to always be healthy, study well, and work to repay my parents," said Le Ngoc Van.

After undergoing the transplant in December 2024, her health has stabilized, allowing her to engage in regular activities. However, due to bone complications from her condition, she still requires monthly check-ups and cannot walk for extended periods.

For her parents, Le Tuan Phuong, 41, and Dang Thi Thu, 44, this outcome brings immense joy.

"I dared not dream that one day my child would receive a kidney transplant and be healthy again," the mother said, recalling challenges over the past seven years since they learned of Van's condition.

Le Ngoc Van stays at a hospital for kidney failure treatment. Photo courtesy of her family

Thu vividly recalls the onset of Van's illness in 2017 when she suddenly vomited during class. Initially thought to be a minor ailment, her condition worsened with increasingly frequent vomiting and swollen eyelids. A local doctor diagnosed her with acute kidney failure and started dialysis, but it had no effect. When the family took her to the National Children's Hospital in Hanoi, they were devastated to learn that Van was already in the final stage of kidney failure and required immediate emergency peritoneal dialysis combined with medication.

Since then, the girl has undergone peritoneal dialysis at home for 14-16 hours a day. Her parents, both factory workers who need to take care of an elderly mother and two other children, alternated work shifts to care for her amidst economic instability, often resorting to loans.

Van remained resilient, rarely complaining and quietly enduring her pain. The illness prevented her from attending school, made her withdrawn, and led to severe weight loss, dropping to just 20 kilograms.

According to Nguyen Thu Huong, Head of the Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, National Children's Hospital, peritoneal dialysis is only a temporary solution, and the child was still at risk of cardiovascular complications, high blood pressure, or even death. Van had already developed complications like bone deformities (knock knees), stunted growth, anemia, and heart failure. A kidney transplant was deemed essential for her to live a normal life. However, neither parent was a compatible donor, placing Van on the waiting list for a kidney from a brain-dead donor.

In late 2024, the Vietnam National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation informed the family of a suitable donor at Binh Duong General Hospital - a 47-year-old patient who had died from brain damage after treatment.

Upon receiving the news, Thu was overwhelmed with emotion but concerned about the financial burden. Amidst these worries, they learned that the Hope Foundation would cover VND100 million of the transplant costs.

"We couldn't believe it; such invaluable gifts were beyond our imagination," Thu said.

Le Ngoc Van (L) and her sister. Photo courtesy of the family

Tran Minh Dien, Director of the National Children's Hospital, recalled that while a surgical team retrieved the donated kidney in Binh Duong, another team in Hanoi prepared for Van's transplant. With assistance from traffic police and the national airline, the kidney was transported under strict preservation conditions.

Van's case marked the hospital's first kidney transplant from a brain-dead donor, although transplants from living donors are routine.

Le Anh Dung, head of the Urology Department, acknowledged the challenges, particularly the urgency required to ensure the kidney's viability.

Having undergone multiple surgeries before, Van expressed fear of the impending pain. Her mother comforted her, hoping for a miracle. Fortunately, the two-hour surgery was successful.

Given the higher risk of rejection with organs from brain-dead donors, Van received strong immunosuppressive therapy and was closely monitored. Her kidney function gradually stabilized, and she was moved to the Nephrology and Hemodialysis department for continued treatment. Once her condition improved, she was discharged from the hospital, stepping into a new chapter of life.

Kidney transplantation remains the most effective treatment for end-stage kidney disease. The long-term costs of a transplant are significantly lower than those associated with dialysis and related complications. The Vietnam National Children's Hospital currently has many children awaiting kidney transplants. Due to the scarcity of organ donations, previous transplants at the hospital were limited to living relatives.

Doctors hope for an increase in organ donors to provide life-saving transplants to more children. For families struggling with costs, there is reassurance: the hospital can seek support from charitable organizations to ensure that no child is denied treatment due to financial hardship.