ACIBADEM HEALTHCARE GROUP… Two Babies with Liver Failure from Georgia and Libya Treated in Türkiye

Two babies, a two-year-old from Libya and a four-month-old from Georgia, underwent successful liver transplants performed by Turkish doctors at Acıbadem in Türkiye.

Liver transplantation, which involves removing a portion of a healthy person’s liver and transplanting it into a patient to save their life, sounds like a miracle. Yet, for experienced transplant surgeons, it is part of their daily routine. Performing transplants on two babies from different parts of the world within just a few days was a remarkable achievement even for Prof. Murat Kılıç, Assoc. Prof. Cahit Yılmaz, and the entire team. They have performed more than two thousand liver transplants to date, including many pediatric cases, making them a very experienced team in this field.

Two Different Journeys from Despair to Hope

Two babies sharing the same fate, one from Libya and the other from Georgia, traveled with their families to Türkiye for life-saving liver transplant surgeries. Both families made the long journey in search of a cure for their children who were suffering from liver failure.

Led by Prof. Murat Kılıç, the team performed a liver transplant for Hatan, a 2-year-old girl from Libya, using liver tissue donated by her father, and for Saba, a 4-month-old boy from Georgia, using liver tissue donated by his mother. As the families rejoiced at their babies beginning a second chance at life, Prof. Kılıç shared that both children were in good health and would soon be discharged.

Hatan’s Story

Hatan was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a serious congenital condition in which the liver’s bile ducts are missing, when she was just three weeks old. Her father took her from Libya to Egypt for surgery, where she underwent the Kasai procedure. This procedure involves removing the blocked bile ducts and gallbladder and replacing them with a segment of the child’s own small intestine. However, it was not a permanent solution, and Hatan eventually needed a liver transplant to regain her health. Her father volunteered to be her donor.

With the support of the Libyan Ministry of Health, Hatan and her father traveled to Acıbadem in İzmir, Türkiye. After completing the necessary tests, baby Hatan underwent surgery. A portion of her father’s liver was successfully transplanted into Hatan. Before the transplant, she was in serious condition and unable to walk. After the surgery, she recovered quickly and even began walking again.

Prof. Sema Aydoğdu, a specialist in pediatric gastroenterology, explained that the absence of bile ducts is the most common reason for liver transplants in children. Before the transplant, Hatan was in the final stages of liver failure. Her abdomen was severely swollen due to malnutrition and fluid accumulation, which also caused her organs to enlarge. All signs of liver insufficiency were present, but she was brought to the hospital at exactly the right time for a transplant. Now, following the surgery, her liver functions have returned to normal, and the team plans to discharge her within a few days.

Hatan’s father, said: “We went through very difficult times. Watching my daughter’s health deteriorate was devastating and broke my heart. We came to Türkiye and to Acıbadem for the liver transplant. Now my daughter is well, and we are very happy. I would like to thank the Libyan government, doctors, Acıbadem, and the Turkish government for giving her this chance.”

Saba’s Story

Saba was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis when he was just two months old. The only treatment option was liver transplantation, and it had to be done urgently. His family began searching for a way to give their little son a new lease on life.

His mother recalled those days: “Symptoms began just 10 days after he was born. Since there was no procedure available in our country, his condition worsened day by day, and we decided to come to Türkiye as a family.”

The family contacted Acıbadem and traveled to Türkiye for treatment. Both parents were prepared to be donors for their baby, but the father was not a suitable match. The mother became the donor.

Acıbadem surgeons successfully performed the operation, removing a portion of the mother’s liver and transplanting it into baby Saba, giving him the chance to live a healthy life. In a way, the mother gave life to her son for the second time.

Prof. Murat Kılıç described Saba’s condition: “His situation was an emergency. The liver’s clotting function had stopped working. Without an urgent transplant, he could have died. If we had not been able to perform the transplant within a week, we would have lost him. We urgently performed a transplant from the mother. The baby was four months old and weighed six kilograms, but the operation went well. We have considerable experience in pediatric liver transplantation. Baby Saba’s liver functions have returned to normal. It has been one week since the transplant, and he will be discharged in a few days.”

Saba’s mother said that her son’s condition improved after the operation and that they are very happy. She added that they hope he continues to get better every day and expressed their deep gratitude to all the doctors and the entire team at Acıbadem.

Acıbadem Healthcare Group is one of the leading destinations for liver transplantation in Türkiye. Many patients from around the world choose Acıbadem for their treatment thanks to its extensive experience, high success rates, and patient-centered care. To date, Acıbadem has successfully performed more than 5,000 liver transplants, including pediatric cases, complex surgeries, and combined kidney-liver transplants. These procedures are carried out at three dedicated liver transplant centers located in İstanbul, İzmir, and Bursa. If you’d like to learn more, visit acibademinternational.com and share your condition with us through the contact form. Our expert team will contact you within a few hours.