Bengaluru: Two strangers, both battling end-stage kidney failure, found renewed life and a lasting bond through a rare kidney swap surgery in Bengaluru.
Suzanne Sangi, 29, a content manager from KR Puram, was diagnosed with lupus nephritis, a kidney complication arising from an autoimmune condition. Despite treatment, her health declined, and by 2023, she relied on dialysis.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Mastan, also 29 and working in the IT sector in Jayanagar, experienced fatigue and swelling. Tests revealed IgA nephropathy, another autoimmune kidney disease. He too required an urgent transplant.
Suzanne’s younger sister, Joanna, and Mastan’s wife, Afreen, both stepped forward as donors. But a major hurdle surfaced: their blood groups didn’t align. Suzanne and Joanna were B+ and A+, while Mastan and Afreen were A+ and B+, respectively—making direct donations impossible.
Doctors Deepak Dubey and Mohammed Fahad Khan from Manipal Hospital identified a unique opportunity: a paired kidney exchange. Suzanne could receive Afreen’s kidney, and Mastan could be matched with Joanna’s.
Both families agreed instantly, setting aside differences of faith or background. “We didn’t hesitate. It was a blessing in disguise,” Suzanne recalled.
The dual transplant surgeries were successfully performed on December 9, 2024. After a three-month recovery period, all four—both recipients and donors—are in good health.
The experience formed a deep emotional connection between the families. “We became more than patients—we became family,” Mastan said.
Now, they stay in touch regularly through video calls, referring to each other as extended family.
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