AHMEDABAD: Shabab Fatma Sunasara, 15, suffers from a rare disorder called Wilson's Disease where her liver does not process copper. The excess metal in her body has adversely affected her development to the extent that the girl cannot speak and express herself. But all this will change as the liver of Hardik Shah, a 27-year-old computer engineer who died of a brain stroke, was transplanted in the girl recently.

As many as 10 marathon organ transplants were carried out in the hospital following four cadaver organ donations in Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC). All the donors were young people whose parents decided to donate their organs and give life to ailing men and women.

"Fatma's turnaround would be amazing. Once the body starts processing copper, she would move and talk like any of us. That is the gift Hardik has given her. Her siblings too are deaf and dumb. If Fatma gets well, it would be a great relief for her parents," said transplant surgeon Dr Pranjal Modi, who has been inside the hospital and OT since Wednesday afternoon. The last surgery was wound up on Saturday morning!

Hardik's parents Vikram and Praveena who were busy conversing with the girl and her parents confessed that while the tears just do not stop at losing their only son just ahead of Dilwai, the fact that he will give life to three women, including the sweet little Fatma was a great consolation.

The team of doctors at IKDRC were visibly fatigued after the marathon run of surgeries but the excitement of carrying out 10 cadaver transplants shone through the sleepiness.

The team of doctors led by surgeons Dr Pranjal Modi, Dr Jamaal Rizvi and anaesthetist Dr Veena Shah said that the marathon transplants required co-ordinated team effort as the cadaver transplants are highly time-bound.

"Time is crucial. Not a single minute should be wasted once the organ donation has been decided upon. Ideally, once the patient is declared brain dead, time should not be wasted deciding in donation of organs. If we wait for 24 hours or more, the failed brain starts affecting other organs too," said Dr Modi.