The flour hangs in the air like snow. Thick, white, everywhere. On the floor, on the shelves, on the hair of Stanisław Nowak, who for forty-five years has been getting up at three in the morning to bake bread for his district. He is seventy-two years old, but his hands – wrinkled, covered with burn scars – move with the precision of a surgeon.
A Mother’s Desperate Fight: Six Years Battling Liver Failure
For six long years, İlknur Güler, a 58-year-old mother of two residing in Bursa, had been locked in a relentless battle against liver failure. Diagnosed with cirrhosis linked to Hepatitis B in 2020, her health steadily deteriorated, culminating in a critical condition that saw her admitted to the hospital last November. The once vibrant woman found herself unable to walk, eat, or even maintain her balance, her life slowly ebbing away.
Her only hope lay in a liver transplant, and for a time, she was placed on a waiting list. But as her condition worsened, the urgency became palpable. It was then that her 22-year-old daughter, Buse Güler, a recent graduate of Kocaeli University with a degree in Public Relations and Advertising, stepped forward with an unwavering resolve: she would donate a part of her liver to save her mother.
A Daughter’s Unyielding Love: “My Liver Will Regenerate, My Mother Won’t”
Buse’s decision was not made lightly, yet it was firm. Despite her mother’s initial reluctance, fearing for her daughter’s well-being, Buse insisted. “My liver will regenerate, but my mother won’t,” she pleaded, her words echoing the depth of her love and fear of losing her mother. “I don’t want to be without my mother.”
The family’s journey was fraught with challenges. Buse’s brother suffered from health issues that precluded him from being a donor, and her father’s age made him an unsuitable candidate. The weight of responsibility fell squarely on Buse’s young shoulders, a burden she embraced with courage and determination. “I never lost hope,” Buse recounted, her voice filled with emotion. “I always believed that Allah would not leave us helpless.”
Preparations for the living donor transplant began. Buse underwent extensive tests, confirming her compatibility, and on January 20th, she was admitted to the hospital, ready to undergo the life-altering surgery. The operating room was prepared, the medical team on standby, and a palpable tension filled the air as the family braced themselves for the momentous procedure.
The Eleventh-Hour Miracle: A Call from Çanakkale
Then, in the dead of night, just hours before Buse was to be wheeled into surgery, a phone call shattered the quiet anticipation, bringing with it a wave of disbelief and overwhelming joy. A liver had become available from a deceased donor in Çanakkale, a miracle that would spare Buse from the arduous surgery and offer İlknur a new chance at life.
The moment İlknur and Buse received the news was captured on video by Associate Professor Dr. Hikmet Aktaş, the Organ and Liver Transplant Coordinator who had served at the hospital for 15 years. The footage, later shared online, quickly went viral, touching the hearts of millions as the mother and daughter dissolved into tears of happiness, a powerful testament to the transformative power of organ donation.
On January 22nd, İlknur Güler underwent a six-hour cadaveric liver transplant. The surgery was a success, and she is now on the road to recovery, her health steadily improving. “I am very well and very happy now,” İlknur shared with DHA, expressing her profound gratitude to her doctors and children. “Please, tell your spouses, friends, and relatives about organ donation. Please donate organs, bring people back to life. This is a very good thing.”
The Unsung Heroes: The Organ Donor and Their Family
The Güler family’s story is a poignant reminder of the critical importance of organ donation. Associate Professor Dr. Hikmet Aktaş emphasized that for patients with end-stage liver failure, transplant is the definitive treatment. He highlighted the societal responsibility of organ donation, noting that while living donor transplants are a testament to the success of a medical team, cadaveric transplants represent the success of an entire community.
Dr. Bakır Batı, Assistant Organ Transplant Coordinator, echoed these sentiments, stressing that organ donation is vital, yet donation rates remain below desired levels. He explained that cadaveric donations allow for the transplantation of an entire liver, offering a lifeline to many patients who might otherwise perish while awaiting an organ. “Organ donation gives many people a second chance at life,” he stated, urging everyone to consider becoming donors.
In a gesture of profound gratitude and commitment to the cause, the Güler family has pledged to donate all their organs, hoping to offer hope and a future to others in need. “We want to be a source of hope for people after we die, for them to hold onto life,” Buse explained. “I was going to be a donor, and someone else became a hope for my mother. I hope I can be a hope for others in the future.”
The family also expressed their immense gratitude to the family of the deceased donor from Çanakkale. “We are grateful to the family who donated organs for giving us hope. We wish mercy from Allah. Their decision gave my mother life. They did not just save one life; they enabled our family to hold onto life.”
The story of İlknur and Buse Güler is a powerful narrative of love, sacrifice, and the miraculous impact of organ donation. It is a story that resonates far beyond the walls of the hospital, inspiring hope and reminding us of the profound difference we can make in the lives of others.
Source: https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yerel-haberler/ankara/kizinin-karacigeri-ile-hayata-tutunacakti-amel-43113998
