Kidney patient gets new lease on life in Pakistan

Mohammed first became aware of his condition in January when he started feeling terribly ill.

“It all happened suddenly . . . no indication, no warning. I went to a birthday party and spent the entire afternoon upstairs, not taking part. I had very little to eat . . . and had this metallic taste in my mouth.”

His doctor diagnosed him with acid reflux disease and a myriad of other minor problems.

Although medicine was prescribed, Mohammed continued to experience sick feelings, so he consulted another doctor who told him he was experiencing kidney problems.

“I went to see my regular doctor but the office was closed,” Mohammed recalled. “I stopped by another doctor along the way and his first comment was, ‘Your face is swollen. You have a kidney problem’.”

After this diagnosis, he went through a series of treatments including peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis. The second procedure, while free at public hospitals also required a six- month waiting period. Mohammed had to get treatment at a private medical centre at a cost of $6,400 a month.

Mohammed said a ray of hope came in the form of a friend who had recently returned from having a kidney transplant in Pakistan.

He said, “The idea of a transplant made financial sense. I would have to spend $7,200 annually for I don’t know how long (for dialysis treatment) and I don’t have this kind of money.”

Mohammed said his doctors were not as enthusiastic and “adopted the official position that they do not accept unrelated donors of live kidneys fearing a developing trade in kidney sale.”

Mohammed said that he also got negative feedback from a nephrologist who told him he expected at least half of his kidney patients to die within five years. That sealed the deal for Mohammed. He made up his mind to do the transplant surgery in Pakistan.

After extensive fund-raising efforts, Mohammed flew to Pakistan where he underwent a successful kidney transplant operation. He is now back in TT and doing well. His only problem now is the availability of drugs locally to prevent his body from rejecting his new kidney.

“The end result of this entire episode is mainly psychological. I live with two fears. One, is a lifelong fear of kidney rejection. The other is the unavailability of drugs or money to buy drugs. I know of at least one transplant patient who died because of the unavailability of anti-rejection drugs.” However, he says there are options for persons in this country with kidney failure.

As far as undergoing transplant surgery in Pakistan, he declared, “Forget the mauvais langue . . . and forget the negativity towards it. It is a viable alternative which will definitely improve your quality of life.”