In a powerful story of love, courage, and medical excellence, a woman from Rajasthan donated 40% of her liver to save her ailing husband, becoming the first live donor in a rare liver transplant surgery at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Medical College Hospital.
The 15-hour marathon surgery, performed on Saturday, marks a historic milestone for the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery Department at SMS Hospital. Led by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Bharti, the team of surgeons executed the complex procedure that now gives hope to thousands of patients across the state.
A Rare Surgery at a Government Hospital
SMS Medical College Principal Dr. Deepak Maheshwari confirmed the transplant’s success, noting that live liver transplants require two teams working simultaneously. “Getting success in this is great news for the entire state. SMS is one of India’s premier hospitals and this transplant program will now move forward at full speed,” he said.
Both the donor and the recipient are reportedly stable after surgery, and doctors have credited two months of intense preparation — including blood group matching, tissue compatibility, liver size assessment, and full medical history evaluations — for the successful outcome.
A Ray of Hope for Thousands
According to hospital records, 13 cadaver transplants have been performed at SMS Hospital so far, but live transplants had stopped for some time. With nearly 7,000 patients in Rajasthan in need of liver transplants, this breakthrough offers a lifeline for many.
While private hospitals often charge between Rs 20–25 lakh for such procedures, SMS Hospital performed the surgery free of cost—a huge relief for poor and middle-class families. Officials have stated that the program will soon be available at affordable rates for future patients.
Love That Heals
Doctors revealed that most of the recipient’s liver was damaged beyond recovery, leaving his wife as the last ray of hope. Her courageous decision to donate a part of her own organ not only saved her husband’s life but also inspired an entire state.
“This surgery proves that with preparation, expertise, and community support, government hospitals can deliver world-class healthcare,” Dr. Bharti said.
A Milestone for Rajasthan
The success of this transplant reaffirms SMS Hospital’s status as a leader in complex medical procedures. It also highlights how organ donation, especially from living donors, can save lives when cadaver donations are insufficient.