"Since this is a new life I gained thanks to my son, I will take better care of my health and live the rest of my life for my family."
A third-generation Korean-Uzbekistani patient battling liver cancer has been granted a second chance at life following a successful liver transplant from her son. The emotional journey has touched many, particularly the revelation that the son underwent months of rigorous exercise and dieting to lose 10kg to qualify as a donor.
Gachon University Gil Medical Center announced on the 11th that the transplant surgery for Ms. Marina Jang (48) was successfully completed. Ms. Jang, a descendant of Koreans who settled in Uzbekistan, relocated to Korea after marrying a Korean national to raise her two children.
A Grueling Battle with Liver Disease
Ms. Jang’s health struggles began in 2019 when she was diagnosed with Hepatitis B (HBV). The condition eventually progressed to liver cirrhosis. By August 2023, doctors discovered lesions suspected of being hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) alongside tumor thrombosis. Over the next year, she fought the disease with six embolization procedures, radiofrequency treatments, and radiation therapy.
A multidisciplinary team at Gachon University—comprising specialists in gastroenterology, surgery, radiation oncology, and organ transplantation—concluded that a transplant was the only fundamental solution to stop the cancer's progression.
A Son’s Sacrifice and Transformation
As a foreign national, Ms. Jang faced complicated administrative hurdles that made securing a brain-dead donor nearly impossible. Seeing his mother’s health decline, her 26-year-old son stepped forward to donate his liver, motivated by a desire to ensure his 11-year-old sister grew up with a healthy mother.
However, the son initially faced his own health crisis. He suffered from fatty liver and other ailments that made a transplant dangerous for both the donor and the recipient. Undeterred, he spent months exercising and following a strict diet, successfully losing 10kg and passing the necessary medical evaluations.
A Masterclass in Surgical Precision
On the 11th of last month, the pair underwent a complex living-donor liver transplant. The surgery involved extracting the son’s liver laparoscopically and transplanting it into Ms. Jang in real-time. This method is significantly more intricate and time-consuming than traditional transplants.
Professor Choi Sang-tae, the lead surgeon at Gil Medical Center, explained the stakes: "It was a difficult surgery that required maintaining optimal conditions while connecting numerous microscopic blood vessels. After 10 hours of seamless cooperation among dozens of medical staff, the surgery was completed without issue."
A Healthy Recovery and a New Beginning
The recovery has been remarkable. The son has regained most of his liver function and returned to his daily life. Ms. Jang, who had 8kg of ascites (fluid buildup) removed during the process, was discharged in good health on the 27th of last month.
"The medical staff treated me with such dedication," Ms. Jang said. "My son donated his liver, and I feel reborn. I will take better care of my health and live more happily for my family in the future."
