Yesterday at Nanfang Hospital, 47-year-old Pan Ming from Nanning, Guangxi, lived a harmonious life with his family of three. However, a routine health checkup in May this year changed the fate of the three. Diagnosed with primary liver cancer and post-hepatitis B cirrhosis, Pan Ming came to Guangzhou for treatment on June 13.
Liver transplantation was determined as the preferred treatment option, being one of the best choices for early-stage liver cancer. After waiting for two months without finding a suitable liver donor, Pan Ming's son, Pan Jian, a 23-year-old college senior suffering from rhinitis symptoms, resolutely donated 57% of his liver. To accommodate the liver transplant, he also had his gallbladder removed. Yesterday, this "sharing-the-liver-in-hardship" father-son duo was discharged from the hospital. After recuperation, both their livers have recovered to more than 80% of a normal liver. After the National Day holiday, Pan Jian will return to campus.
The wife's donation attempt was blocked, so the son stepped up.
Professor Yang Dinghua, deputy director of the Hepatobiliary Surgery Department at Nanfang Hospital, introduced that after discovering Pan Ming had liver cancer and cirrhosis, his liver function was already in a relatively poor state. "Pan Ming's condition falls under early-stage liver cancer, with only one cancerous site, and his overall physical condition is not very suitable for tumor resection surgery."
From discovering the liver cancer in May and subsequently transferring to Nanfang Hospital for treatment, Pan Ming has been waiting for an appropriate liver donor for two months. Upon hearing the news of his father’s liver cancer, Pan Jian rushed to the hospital to guard his father while still in school.
"Due to the limited number of organ donations and the fact that the liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate after transplantation, finding a suitable organ from relatives for living-donor liver transplantation became the only way to save Pan Ming," said Yang Dinghua. Fortunately, all three members of the Pan family are blood type O. The wife, Ding Xuelin, was the first to step forward and volunteer to donate part of her liver, but due to the presence of a vascular tumor, she was not suitable for donation.
"How can I save my dad?" Pan Jian anxiously asked his mother.
Ultimately, Pan Jian learned the way to save his father, bravely stepping forward and firmly deciding to donate his liver to save his father.
After undergoing various indicator reviews and passing multiple tests, on July 26, he was pushed into the operating room with his father.
A perilous 19-hour "battle" ensued. Professor Yang Dinghua introduced that the operation of a living-donor liver transplant is highly complex and risky. "For example, during the liver resection, it must be ensured that there is minimal bleeding, the liver cut surface is smooth, and the position is precise. To prevent fatal complications after the transplant, thorough hemostasis and fine suturing must be fully considered during the liver transplantation." The highly focused surgery lasted from 8:00 am until 3:00 am the next morning.
The surgery successfully extracted 57% of Pan Jian's liver, weighing approximately 463 grams and having a volume of about 755cc. Meanwhile, Pan Ming's existing cancerous liver was entirely removed, officially making the father and son share the same liver.
Yesterday morning, the youthful yet shy Pan Jian sat beside his father. Although his gallbladder was removed, and his body now bears a 30-centimeter-long scar, the young man said without regret: "I think, as children, we should do this."
"The two livers" continue to grow.
Yang Dinghua stated that after nearly a month of postoperative observation, Pan Jian's liver has recovered to 85% of its original size, while Pan Ming's has recovered to 83%. The two livers split from one are growing healthily.
After the National Day holiday, Pan Jian will return to school to continue his classes. As he is nearing graduation, he plans to start working on his graduation project.
To quickly restore his physical strength, Pan Jian insists on walking up the stairs every day, "This counts as exercise." He is a football enthusiast and hopes that his father's health will improve soon so they can play football together again.
Yang Dinghua stated that Pan Jian would be able to resume normal life three months after the surgery and could engage in more intense exercise six months later. However, Pan Ming must take medication long-term. "The cost of medication initially amounts to around 4000 yuan per month, which may decrease to 2000 yuan in the second year and continue to reduce afterward. With medical insurance, most patients can afford it," Yang Dinghua explained.
Written by: South China Morning Post reporter Wang Daobin, intern Lin Honghai, and correspondents Huang Zhicai and Wu Jianpeng. Share to: Welcome to comment. I want to comment. Weibo recommendation | Today's Weibo hot topics (Editor: SN026).