Miracle hands save a life

A patient from Witbank was the picture of happiness as she waited to be discharged from Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.

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Thobeka Mthembu (31) became the first person in the history of South African medicine to have a combined heart and kidney transplant.

“I am so grateful to the transplant teams, and all who have provided me with support over this time,” said Mthembu. “Mostly I would like to thank the family of the donor, who were so compassionate at what must have been a time of great hardship for them in making this miracle possible.”

Dr Graham Cassel, a cardiologist who is a member of the transplant programme at the hospital and was part of Zama’s transplantation team, said the operation was a landmark procedure in South African medicine and demonstrated the new levels of maturity that transplantation programmes in this country have attained.

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“Worldwide, simultaneous heart and kidney transplantations are undertaken only rarely. We are delighted and gratified at the positive outcome that has been achieved in this case,” said Cassel. “Mthembu, who has suffered numerous health problems throughout her life, has recovered well and is in good health and spirits after the procedure.”

According to Cassel, the combined heart and kidney transplantation was made possible by the cooperation between the heart transplantation unit at Netcare Milpark Hospital and the kidney transplantation team at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, both of which brought their expertise to this particular case.

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The hospital said Mthembu had a long history of illness, having suffered from tuberculosis (TB) at an early age which damaged her bones and she required a hip replacement operation. She then suffered renal failure six years ago which led to one of her kidney’s being removed. Mthembu has been on dialysis since while waiting for a new kidney after being placed on the transplant list.

Jacques du Plessis, managing director of the Netcare Hospital division, affirmed that Mthembu’s transplant was an immense cooperative effort.

“Heart-lung transplantations are undertaken from time to time by Netcare’s transplantation programme, but this is the first dual heart-kidney procedure,” said Du Plessis. “Mthembu’s case brings new hope to those patients who may require such a dual transplantation in the future.

“We would like to congratulate and thank all members of the transplant teams who brought this initiative to fruition.”