The life of a 16-year-old boy in the UAE who was suffering from end-stage renal failure was saved by his father, in the first pediatric kidney transplant from a live donor in the country.
The surgery was undertaken by a private-public partnership among a team of Dubai physicians including Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital (Al Jalila Children’s), Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and Mediclinic Middle East have successfully carried out
The surgery was funded by Al Jalila Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical research, education and treatment in the UAE.
In June 2020, Pritvik Sinhadc arrived at the nephrology clinic of Al Jalila Children’s suffering from complete kidney failure. Having been born with small, partially functioning kidneys, Pritvik had reached end stage kidney disease and required immediate renal replacement therapy, according to his doctors.
Pritvik’s father, Bhaskar Sinhadc, was identified as a successful match following which he was placed through a full donor evaluation process.
The transplant was successfully executed by Dr. Ramzi Ayache, Nephrologist at Mediclinic City Hospital, in collaboration with Dr. Farhad Janahi, Consultant Urologist & Transplant Surgeon at Mediclinic City Hospital and Assistant Professor of Surgery at MBRU and Dr. Waldo Concepcion, Head of the Al Jalila Children’s Organ Transplant Center.
The operation, which has saved Pritvik’s life, is also expected to improve the quality of his life in the years ahead.
In a special letter, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, told Sinhadc that the UAE is his home and that he would receive the best care possible.
His Highness wrote: “To my dear Pritvik, this is a small gesture from me to you to remind you that you are here at home and that you are in safe hands, and I will pray to God to keep you in good health and safe keep smiling little warrior.”
Meanwhile, Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) highlighted the success of government and private healthcare facilities in Dubai in providing the highest levels of care to patients when performing various kinds of operations.
“The success of Pritvik’s operation marks an important step forward in conducting such highly precise operations. It also supports the development efforts taking place in Dubai,” said Al Qutami.
The Director General also congratulated the medical team who performed the operation, including all the teams who contributed to its success.
A talented young boy, Pritvik has been accepted as an official affiliated researcher at BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science to research astrophysics.
He is a co-author on NASA’s Primer on Astrobiology and graduated as a World Science Scholar in June 2020. However, his medical condition was taking a heavy toll on his research work and his schoolwork, necessitating an urgent kidney transplant.
Pritvik, who was named a UAE Ambassador of Organ Donation, said: “I pledge to work towards raising awareness on the crucial need for organ donation in saving lives of patients like me, who would otherwise not make it without a transplant. I have been lucky to have my father as my donor. However, there are many who need transplants to survive and I shall be working closely with MBRU and the Al Jalila Foundation to ensure that there is increased awareness on organ donation.”
