Miracle Transplant: 9-Year-Old Celebrates Birthday With Doctors Who Saved Her Life

Nisanur Yavuz, a 9-year-old girl who was brought back to life through a liver transplant after suffering from mushroom poisoning four years ago, celebrated her fourth birthday since the life-saving procedure. The celebration took place at Bursa Uludağ University Hospital with the doctors who were instrumental in her recovery.

Kerem Selimoğlu, the Organ and Tissue Transplant Coordinator at Bursa Uludağ University, described Nisanur's story as a miracle. He recalled the urgency of her situation when he contacted ministry officials. "I told the ministry official when I made the urgent notification for Nisanur that we have a 5-year-old child with blood type O. Please repeat that," he said. The officials expressed astonishment, confirming the details and noting the incredible timing.

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Every transplant has its own story, but Nisanur's was a bit different. It was one of the rare cases I've encountered in my career as a coordinator.

"We were about to cancel because we couldn't find a suitable recipient for the liver," they told Selimoğlu, revealing that a donor in Konya, whose liver was a perfect match, had become available just in time. This donor, who had suffered a fatal fall, also provided kidneys to two other patients.

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I told the ministry official when I made the urgent notification for Nisanur that we have a 5-year-old child with blood type O. Please repeat that.

Nisanur's ordeal began on July 13, 2022, when her family consumed a red mushroom they had gathered from a forest. While most of the 15 family members who ate the mushroom experienced only mild symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, Nisanur's young age and underdeveloped immune system led to a severe deterioration of her condition. She was transferred through several hospitals before reaching Bursa Uludağ University Hospital, where doctors declared an urgent need for a liver transplant.

Following the transplant on July 15, Nisanur underwent six surgeries, including organ transplantation, angioplasty, and vascular repair, within 1.5 months. Doctors advised her to stay home for six months to avoid any infections. Despite the challenging recovery, Nisanur has since regained her health and returned to a normal life, celebrating her ninth birthday, and her fourth year of a new life, surrounded by the medical team who gave her a second chance.

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We were about to cancel because we couldn't find a suitable recipient for the liver.