Kerala woman donates liver to save her son

KOCHI: Aswathi, a native of Anakkulam in Idukki, donated a portion of her liver to save her 9-month-old son, Edwin, who was battling biliary atresia, a rare liver condition.

The condition stemmed from a blockage in the bile ducts, diagnosed shortly after birth during routine jaundice screening. “Surgical correction was not possible, and the disease progressed into liver cirrhosis. With no other options available, a liver transplant became imperative,” said Dr Biju Chandran, liver transplant specialist.

Edwin was previously diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage and high blood pressure. To ensure that the mother could remain close to the baby after surgery, Aswathi underwent a minimally invasive laparoscopic donor surgery, a method rarely employed in such contexts.