In the United Arab Emirates, they performed a kidney transplant operation from one sister to another.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi doctors successfully transplanted the kidney of 22-year-old Shaima Alebsi to her 27-year-old sister, Fatema, who had suffered from kidney failure for the past two years.
Renal failure was detected in Fatema at the age of 25 years. A series of tests showed that her kidneys function only five percent, and she urgently needs a transplant.
The girl’s sister was the only suitable donor in the family and she decided to undergo surgery without hesitation.
Initially, the family planned to go on surgery to South Korea, but in the end it was decided to carry out the operation closer to home.
Dr. Bashir Sankari, head of the Surgical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: "We are pleased to see patients who prefer to stay in the UAE or Gulf countries."
"Fatema was worried that this procedure could be detrimental to my health, but I think I feel good. The best thing is to see how my sister is recovering. Before the operation, she suffered from dialysis and was always tired. Now she is eating right. "She has already gained weight and she has much more strength. We feel that the disease is left behind."
“I am so grateful to my sister who gave me this precious gift,” says Fatema.
More than 2 thousand patients in the UAE are currently undergoing regular treatment of kidney disease.
