The family of the deceased woman gave four critically ill patients a chance to live

At KNP “Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 8” a postmortem retrieval of donor organs was performed for the first time in the institution’s history. Thanks to this, four critically ill patients immediately received a chance at life. This was reported recently by the Department of Health of the Kyiv City State Administration.

The donor was a female patient who died as a result of an acute cerebrovascular accident. Despite the doctors’ efforts, they were unable to save her life. After brain death was declared, the woman’s family made an extremely difficult decision and consented to postmortem donation.

The heart, liver and two kidneys were provided for transplantation. These organs are intended to give a chance at continued life to the four patients who were waiting for a transplant.

The department emphasized that this event marked an important step for the development of transplantology in the capital. For the hospital itself Hospital No. 8 this is the first experience of postmortem donor organ retrieval.

Particular significance in this story lies in the decision of the deceased woman’s family. In their moment of personal loss they agreed to donation and thereby gave others a chance to survive. Such decisions do not erase the pain of loss, but transform it into an opportunity to save other people’s lives.

Postmortem donation in Ukraine is gradually developing, but each such case still remains an event. Behind every transplantation there is not only the work of doctors, but also the family’s consent, complex coordination, trust in the system, and the understanding that after death one person can save several others.

Previously, we wrote:

• In Kyiv, 13-year-old Ivan posthumously saved four lives through donation
• One person’s death saved four: unique transplants were performed overnight in Ukraine
• “Corridor of Honor” and a new life for patients: in Mykolaiv a multi-organ donor organ retrieval was performed for the first time
• The death of a 4-year-old girl became a rescue: in Kyiv three children were saved thanks to donation
• Doctors saved the lives of three patients thanks to the donor family’s decision