Navi Mumbai: 62-year-old wife donates kidney to her ailing husband

(From left to right): Sudhir Kulkarni along with Dr Atul Ingale and Madhuwanti Kulkarni

At the golden age of 62, a Navi Mumbai resident donated a kidney to her 67-year-old husband who was suffering from chronic kidney disease. The doctors, who did the kidney transplant, said it was a unique kidney transplant as both the recipient and the donor underwent angioplasty.

A resident of Seawood, Sudhir Kulkarni (67) (an ex-civil engineer, who worked with JNPT) had been undergoing treatment for Kidney-related issues for the past 22 years and had been on dialysis twice for the past year. He said, "In 2000, my creatine level was 2.3 and I went to Fortis and Dr. Ingale put me on medication. My creatine was in control. 8 months back, my creatine level shot up and I was put on dialysis. Before dialysis, I was able to perform my routine work but once dialysis started I used to feel weak for 2 to 3 days although it's a mechanical process to purify the blood. I asked the doctor about the solution and he said you have two options one you get registered for a kidney transplant or find a living donor. I have a daughter and she stays abroad having a small baby so we can't ask her. I have a 90-year-old mother and we are taking care of her. My wife Madhuwanti Kulkarni (62) was seeing me suffering and going through the tough times for two decades. She approaches the doctor and shows a willingness to donate her kidney. I was not ready at first because my mother is 90, I was already a patient and I don't want her to be patient but she said she had full faith in doctors."

The surgery was performed by Dr Atul Ingale, Consultant-Nephrologist & Transplant Physician, Director- Dept. of Nephrology, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi said, " This transplant is unique as both the donor and recipient were suffering from various co-morbidities, including a heart condition, and both had undergone angioplasty a few months back. The patients also contracted the Covid-19 virus in the past. It was a challenging task for us also because both were senior citizens. I also took opinions from a cardiologist and they were fit for transplant. I explained the whole procedure and the couple decided to go ahead with the transplant. Luckily they had the same blood group and all the necessary tests which we have conducted before the transplant were normal"

The patient was operated on 'World Health Day' (April 7) and got discharged on April 24. This is a special case that shows the determination and courage of the wife to save her husband, and the grit of the husband to undergo the transplant.

Talking to Mid-day, Madhumita Kulkarni said, "We have been living with each other for so many years. So it's natural that the wife will save the husband's life. Not only me any woman has done the same for her husband. We had full trust in our doctors and under their guidance, everything was very smooth. Yes, there was some obstacle like when we were going through routine check-ups, we both had to go through angioplasty due to which the operation got delayed but it's a life we have ups and downs. As a teacher I lived a disciplined life I don't have any health issues while going through routine checkups I came to know that there is a blockage or else I never had any health issues. Now we both are fine."