47-Year-Old DRDO Scientist Receives Third Kidney Transplant, Now Lives With Five Kidneys!

Imagine living with not one, not two, but five kidneys! That’s exactly what happened to Devendra Barlewar, a 47-year-old DRDO scientist, after undergoing a rare third kidney transplant at Amrita Hospital in Faridabad. This procedure, completed on January 8, 2025, has given him a new lease on life after years of battling chronic kidney disease.

A 15-Year Struggle Finally Ends in HopeDevendra’s health journey has been anything but easy. His troubles began in 2008 when he was diagnosed with hypertension, which later led to chronic kidney disease. In 2010, he underwent his first kidney transplant, only for it to fail. A second transplant followed in 2012, but that too didn’t last. To make things worse, the COVID-19 infection in 2022 further weakened his already fragile condition, leaving him dependent on dialysis to survive.

For years, he searched for a solution, but most hospitals turned him away due to the complexity of his case. That’s when Amrita Hospital stepped in and took on the challenge of performing a third transplant—a rare and highly complex procedure.

A Life-Saving Surgery Like No Other

The four-hour-long operation was performed by a team of expert doctors, including Dr Anil Sharma and Dr Ahmed Kamaal, senior consultants in urology, along with Dr Sameer Bhate, head of cardiac surgery, and Dr Kunal Raj Gandhi, a nephrology expert. What made this surgery extraordinary was the fact that Devendra’s body already housed four kidneys—two non-functioning native kidneys and two failed transplanted ones. The new, functioning kidney was placed strategically while ensuring the existing non-functional kidneys didn’t interfere with the body’s immune response.

“Surgically, this was one of the most challenging cases we’ve handled,” said Dr Anil Sharma. “The patient’s lean physique and previous surgical history made it difficult to find space for the new kidney. Further, we had to carefully connect the organ to the largest abdominal blood vessels, as his previous surgeries had used up the standard ones.”

Dr Kamaal added, “With four existing kidneys, the risk of rejection was high. We had to create specialized immunosuppression protocols to prevent complications.”

Recovery and a New Beginning

Devendra was discharged within ten days of the surgery. His creatinine levels stabilized within two weeks, and most importantly, he no longer needed dialysis. Expressing his gratitude, he said, “After two failed transplants, I had lost all hope. Being dependent on dialysis was tough. But thanks to the doctors at Amrita Hospital, I can now live independently again. This transplant didn’t just save my life—it gave me my freedom back.”

None of this would have been possible without the selfless decision of a 50-year-old farmer’s family to donate his organs after he was declared brain dead. Their generosity not only saved Devendra’s life but also shows how organ donation can give someone a second chance.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.