Mother Checked Before Donating Liver to Child

ANTARA - Dewi Farida (37) is starting to undergo health checks to see her readiness to become a liver donor for her child, Bilqis Aninday who suffers from "atresia bilier". "Today (Jan 6) a team of doctors started examining me and I also had to fast to smoothen the process," Dewi said after undergoing some tests at Dr Kariadi General Hospital here on Saturday.

She said the tests done by a team of liver transplant doctors included an electrocardiographic check, thorax photo and complete blood tests.

After all the tests she said the doctors would still continue with a series of other tests but she did not know what the tests would be.

"Doctors said there were still other tests but they would try to finish them all today. However, if they could not finish them they would continue on Monday," she said, flanked by her husband, Doni Ardianta Passa (33).

She said she hoped all the tests would be smooth and the results would confirm that she was the right person to become Bilqis'a liver donor.

"The doctors themselves have not yet shown the results of the tests that were done just now. So pray for me," she said.

Doni Ardianta Passa also hoped his wife would be the right donor for his daughter so that they need not seek donors from outside the family.

He said Bilqis' condition had remained quite good until now. She continued conducting her daily activities like she was at her own home such as playing with dolls and listening to music from her favourite band the ST 12.

"Moreover, her sister (Ratu Aqila Passa) is accompanying her like when they are at home" he said.

Bilqis indeed often turned fussy, perhaps she could not as yet fully adapt to her new environment.

"Since yesterday she had flu symptoms. Perhaps she was too tired after travelling from Jakarta to Semarang (Central Java)," he said.

He said the family thanked all who continued giving moral and material support and their offer to become donors.

A member of the team of doctors, Bambang Wibowo, said the tests on Bilqis' mother were one of the requirements to be met by a would-be donor.

"The tests are done to assure the condition of the donor which must be accurate and correct," he said. s