Syrian Baby Who Received Life-Changing Liver Transplant On 1st Birthday Happy And Healthy Now

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Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

This Syrian boy living in Turkey who received a life-changing liver transplant on his first birthday after his stepmother turned out to be a viable donor is now living a happy life.

The transplant took place in the Bursa Uludag University (BUU) Hospital in the city of Bursa in the Turkish region of Marmara on the baby’s first birthday.

Tamer Al Jadou was diagnosed with acute liver failure and hospitalised just six months after he was born last year.

Tamer Al Jadou, a one-year-old with acute liver failure, was operated on after determining that the liver of his stepmother, Hmameh Elhalef, who lives in Syria, was a match for the transplant in Bursa, Turkey on 28th April 2021. (Newsflash)

Doctors decided the boy needed a liver transplant to survive.

However, local sources said that as Tamer was a Syrian citizen, Turkish law prohibited doctors from transplanting organs from dead bodies to non-Turkish citizens, which meant that the baby would need a living donor.

Doctors tested his biological mum Nadima Al Jadou and his father Saleh El Jadou, ages not disclosed, but both were bad matches. Nadima’s blood did not match with Tamer’s. Saleh’s blood was a match, but he was reportedly too obese, making him an unsuitable donor.

Tamer Al Jadou, a one-year-old with acute liver failure, was operated on after determining that the liver of his stepmother, Hmameh Elhalef, who lives in Syria, was a match for the transplant in Bursa, Turkey on 28th April 2021. (Newsflash)

Saleh and Nadima started reaching out to any close family when they found Saleh’s wife and Temer’s step-mum Hmameh Elhalef, 31, was a match and a viable candidate for the living donor liver transplant. It is unclear if Nadima Al Jadou and Saleh El Jadou are married.

Hmameh, along with six children under her care, was transported by the Turkish Armed Forces from the Syrian city of Aleppo to the Turkish border.

Doctors successfully completed the partial liver transplant, and the family have now built a new life in Turkey.

Tamer Al Jadou, a one-year-old with acute liver failure, was operated on after determining that the liver of his stepmother, Hmameh Elhalef, who lives in Syria, was a match for the transplant in Bursa, Turkey on 28th April 2021. (Newsflash)

Elhalef reportedly never leaves Tamer, who is now 22 months old, and takes her to the playground in good weather.

Speaking to Turkish media, Elhalef said: “I helped him for God’s sake. I wanted the child to get well. That’s why we came to Turkey, and now we live here.

“Hopefully, there will be no need for another transplant. If necessary, I will be a donor again. Thank God, I am fine, and Tamer is fine. I am pleased that the boy has recovered.”

Tamer Al Jadou, a one-year-old with acute liver failure, was operated on after determining that the liver of his stepmother, Hmameh Elhalef, who lives in Syria, was a match for the transplant in Bursa, Turkey on 28th April 2021. (Newsflash)

Living liver transplants are when patients have a part of their liver cut off which is not functioning properly and it is replaced with a living donor’s healthy liver. The partial liver eventually regenerates to make one organ, and the part that is taken from the donor also regenerates.

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