The son who saved his father by donating his liver

• Dr Paari Vijayaragavan
• 11 October

In Palanisettipatti near Theni, Mr. M. Selvaraj runs a copier and sells mobile phone spare parts.  As most of his liver was affected and all its functions were declining. He was admitted to the Coimbatore Medical Center Hospital in Coimbatore for further treatment as he was treated in some local hospitals for this swelling. There, he was diagnosed with liver damage and more than 50 percent of his liver was affected.

I am 22-year-old son Ajay Gulsan, son of  Mr. M. Selvaraj. I consulted Dr. Paari Vijayaragavan about my father's liver damage because it is more common in alcoholics but my dad had no habit of taking alcohol. I was informed that it might have been a result of the medications he had taken at an early age. My father said at the age of 25, he was suffered from three episodes of typhoid fever, all of which occurred when he was using heavy dosages of prescription medication. 

The physicians gave my father medication to treat his 50% liver damage and advised him to take it for three months in the hopes that the liver damage would decrease. For three months, my father likewise took the medications consistently. But when my father returned to the hospital for a checkup after three months, the medications had not helped and we discovered that the liver damage had escalated to 80%.

Dr. Paari Vijayaraghavan, the liver transplant specialist who examined my father, said that liver transplant is the best solution to fully recover from liver damage. He also said to come forward for a liver transplant by getting either a liver donation from a brain-dead person or a liver donation from a blood relative of the patient. A reservation must be made for a liver donation from a brain-dead person. He said that since there is a delay in getting the liver in that order, only if one of your family comes forward to donate the liver, the operation can be done quickly and the life of the father can be saved.

Upon hearing that, I informed that I would donate a part of my liver to save my father's life. But, my mother Chandanamariyammal did not agree to do that then she told me she would donate her liver to her husband. Immediately, tests were done by various specialist doctors. At the end of the tests, I was told that the chances of my mother's liver being regenerated were slim and that such an operation would be life-threatening for both of them. As a result, his liver donation was rejected by the doctor.

Again I came forward to donate my liver to save my father's life. I asked my mother to pacify and cooperate with my liver donation. Finally, mother agreed. After that, I was examined by various specialists. My liver donation for my father was accepted by the transplant surgeon as all test results were perfect. After that, all the documents for liver donation are prepared and signed by all three persons namely Liver Donor, Donor, and Donor's Dependent (my mother) in front of Notary Public Advocate Sultan in Theni, Veerapandi Village Administrative Officer, Theni Internal Revenue Inspector, Theni District Collector on all those documents and Periyakulam Deputy Collector and submitted to the hospital. After that, approval for a liver transplant was obtained after various procedures including consultation for a liver transplant.

A successful liver transplant was done by Dr. Paari Vijayaragavan. After this surgery, the doctors informed us that my liver has now grown from 40 percent to 80 percent and that my father's transplanted liver has started to grow a bit and his body is accepting it and allowed us to leave Coimbatore for Theni. Now both of us are living happily. 

Thank you, Dr. Paari Vijayaragavan.