An act of giving can give life a new lease on life for those less fortunate.

High humanistic values

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Huong - DirectorNghe An Friendship General HospitalThe Chairman of the Organ Transplant Coordination Council of the hospital shared: "The brain-dead patient was an 18-year-old young man from Hoang Mai town. When he passed away, his family requested that he voluntarily donate his organs. The family's wish has immense humanitarian significance, because the organs he donated will save the lives of many other patients."

In Vietnam, since the first organ transplant in 1992, medical facilities nationwide have performed approximately 7,000 organ transplants. The primary source of organs for transplantation is living donors. Currently, the number of patients awaiting organ transplants in Nghe An province in particular, and Vietnam in general, is very large. However, the supply of organs is very limited, as donors are often family members or relatives, and compatibility and economic conditions are a major factor.

In general, people are still hesitant to donate their bodies and organs after death or brain death due to cultural factors and beliefs such as "the body must remain intact after death." Therefore, the registration of organ donation by the donor's family after brain death is extremely valuable and highly commendable. This should be maintained and popularized in the organ donation culture in Vietnam.

Reportedly, this is the second time that the Nghe An Friendship General Hospital has received a voluntary request to donate organs and tissues from the family of a brain-dead individual. The first case involved a family in Tan Ky district. In that case, after their relative passed away, the family transported the body back to Thua Thien Hue, but upon arrival, the donor's vital signs were no longer good enough, so the organ harvesting and transplantation had to be performed at Hue Central Hospital.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Huong: Nghe An Friendship General Hospital has been licensed by the Ministry of Health to perform organ transplantation since 2019. The hospital's implementation of organ harvesting and transplantation techniques is part of the strategy to develop Nghe An province into a high-tech, specialized medical center in the North Central region, in accordance with Resolution 26-NQ/TW of the Politburo, now Resolution 39-NQ/TW of the Politburo. With the support of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital and the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center, the hospital has successfully performed many organ transplants from living donors. However, this is the first time the hospital has performed organ transplantation from brain-dead donors (not many hospitals in Vietnam are able to do this).

The successful implementation of this technique not only affirms the role and position of Nghe An's health sector but also gives people in the region the opportunity to receive organ transplants without having to travel far, saving time and treatment costs, and reducing the burden on higher-level hospitals. In this organ harvesting and transplant operation, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital mobilized 6 teams with nearly 200 medical staff in coordination with experts from Hue Central Hospital, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, and the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center.

The flight slows down so life can go further.

At 3:30 PM on September 7th, the organ harvesting and transplantation procedure from a brain-dead donor took place. Doctors harvested multiple organs, including the liver, kidneys, cornea, heart valves, and blood vessels, from the brain-dead donor. After harvesting, the doctors proceeded to transplant kidneys to two patients with end-stage renal failure in Hue and Binh Dinh. The remaining organs were immediately transported to Hanoi for transplantation to other patients.

On the evening of September 7th, Vietnam Airlines' special flight VN1718, departing from Vinh Airport, landed safely at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) at 7:30 PM, carrying a liver from a donor. It is understood that the flight was delayed by 11 minutes to accommodate five doctors and the donor's liver, which were being transported from Nghe An Friendship General Hospital to Viet Duc Friendship Hospital to save lives. The airport and flight crew prioritized the quick and safe handling of procedures and seating arrangements for the medical team escorting the liver. All passengers on flight VN1718 were pleased and agreed with the delay.

Meanwhile, at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, two kidney transplant surgeries were successfully completed. Five hours after the transplant, the vital signs of the two patients who received kidneys from the brain-dead donor gradually stabilized. Both patients received special care. As of this time (August 19th), the health of the two kidney transplant recipients has improved, they have recovered, and have been discharged from the hospital.

The two kidney transplant recipients from Thua Thien Hue and Binh Dinh provinces both come from extremely difficult economic circumstances. Due to end-stage renal failure, their health was severely depleted, preventing them from working and earning a living normally. All their money had been spent on treatment. After receiving the transplants and regaining normalcy, these two patients have officially escaped a "death sentence," and their lives promise a brighter future.

In conversation with the two kidney transplant recipients, both were deeply moved, expressing their gratitude to the donor and their family for giving them a second chance at life. Patient Nguyen Duc Quan from Cat Thanh commune, Vu Cat district (Binh Dinh province) emotionally shared: “My family is very poor and couldn’t afford a kidney transplant. My siblings and relatives are also struggling financially and couldn’t donate a kidney to help me. In the pain and despair of my illness, I was saved. Receiving a kidney transplant has made me very happy because my health has improved, my kidney failure will decrease or disappear completely, and I will become a normal person again. I feel very lucky. Thank you very much to the donor, their family, and the doctors and nurses.”

Patient Luu Tuan Thanh from Hue City (Thua Thien Hue province) expressed his gratitude: “I had end-stage kidney failure, so my health was very poor. I was very fortunate to be chosen as a recipient for an organ transplant. After the transplant, my health gradually improved. I am very grateful to the family of the organ donor and the doctors who provided care and support. Although I have never met the organ donor, I am very grateful to him and his family. A part of his body is now inside me. I vow to live well to continue his life.”