Fighting to stay alive: liver transplant mother in Hong Kong shows signs of recovery after second operation
Professor Lo Chung-mau says patient is relatively stable but not yet out of danger and he hopes her new liver will function as soon as possible
“She has begun to react ... and shows small signs of reviving. But she is still not conscious at the moment,” Lo said on Monday afternoon. “She is relatively stable but is not yet out of danger. We hope that her new liver can function as soon as possible.”
It is not fair on Michelle when the public believes she has to make the donation to her mother even before knowing if she is a suitable donor or not
Around 20 per cent of liver recipients required a second operation after a transplant, as it was a very complicated procedure, Lo explained.
The 26-year-old donor, Momo Cheng, was recovering and in a stable condition at the hospital.
Cheng came forward to donate her organ after Tang’s 17-year-old daughter, Michelle – who was three months shy of the legal age to be a live donor – began desperately searching for ways to save her mother.
She had even considered taking legal action against the Hospital Authority to be allowed to donate her liver, sparking a citywide debate on whether the age requirement should be lowered.
Lo, a pioneer in liver transplants, said the public should focus on promoting organ donations from deceased donors instead of living ones. He reminded the public that live organ donation posed huge risks to the donor.
“It is not fair on Michelle when the public believes she has to make the donation to her mother even before knowing if she is a suitable donor or not,” Lo said.
He praised Cheng for her generosity and self-sacrifice, saying she had saved Michelle from public pressure and potential health risks that a donor would face. She also saved the liver transplant team from facing public criticism, Lo added.
Cheng received HK$100,000 from the Promoting Happiness Index Foundation for donating part of her liver, but she decided not to keep the money and instead donated it to the Liver Transplant Patients’ Association.
She said she had helped Tang without thinking about any reward.
