Mumbai: In a powerful expression of love and medical courage, a 25-year-old doctor from Mumbai donated a part of her liver to save her 58-year-old father’s life. As a doctor, she understood the medical urgency and the risks involved, yet she made the brave choice to save her father.
The father, a working professional from Wadala, was suffering from decompensated chronic liver disease — a life-threatening condition that had left his liver severely damaged. As his condition worsened, his daughter, who is also a practicing doctor, offered to become a living liver donor. Following comprehensive evaluations, she was found fit to donate.
“Being a doctor herself, she understood the medical urgency, the risks involved, and still made the brave choice to save her father’s life,” said Dr. Swapnil Sharma, Consultant – Liver Transplant and Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, who successfully carried out the transplant. “It’s not every day that professional knowledge and personal love come together in such a powerful way,” he added.
Reflecting on her decision, the daughter shared, “As a doctor, I’ve always believed in doing everything possible to save lives. But when it’s your own parent, the emotions are different. I didn’t think twice — I just knew I had to do this. Watching him recover and return to normal life is the most fulfilling moment of my journey as both a daughter and a doctor.”
The transplant was performed recently, and both donor and recipient are recovering well. Today, just over four months post-surgery, the father is back at work, and his daughter has also resumed her hospital duties.
As families across the country recently celebrated Father’s Day and as we mark Doctor’s Day, this story stands out as a reminder of the extraordinary bond between parents and children. A daughter’s decision to give her father the gift of life is a tribute not just to her love but also to the strength, compassion, and commitment that define the medical profession.
This heart-warming case underlines the critical importance of living donor liver transplants, especially in chronic liver disease cases where time is of the essence.
