Kuwaiti Woman Travels to Abu Dhabi to Receive Complex Double Organ Transplant

Nashami received the shocking news that she needed a combined liver and kidney transplant after being diagnosed with advanced liver disease and kidney failure. Due to the complexity of the procedure, doctors in Kuwait strongly recommended she travel to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi due to its expertise in advanced transplant care.

During a family holiday in 2024, Kuwaiti mother of three Nashami began noticing some unusual symptoms. She felt extremely tired, had swollen feet and the whites of her eyes began yellowing. The symptoms didn’t go away, so she visited doctors in Kuwait who diagnosed severe liver cirrhosis and kidney failure caused by an autoimmune disease that damages the bile ducts and liver and can impair kidney function.

Nashami was told she needed an urgent combined liver and kidney transplant. Due to the complexity of her case and the need for a double organ transplant, Nashami’s doctors recommended she go to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for its expertise in advanced transplant care and home to the only multi-organ transplant center in the UAE.

The UAE and Kuwait hold an organ sharing agreement, meaning Nashami was placed on a shared waiting list ensuring access to suitable donor organs from either nation. Shortly after, she received a call informing her that a donor match had been found.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s multidisciplinary transplant team successfully performed the consecutive transplants, which required the skill and expertise of integrated teams and advanced surgical protocols.

Nashami’s recovery was remarkable, and today she leads a healthy, fulfilling life. She says, “From the moment I arrived at the hospital, I was welcomed by the warmth and professionalism of the caregivers, as well as the world-class facility. From registration to pre-surgical assessments, I felt completely supported every step of the way. I now proudly call Abu Dhabi my second home.”

Life-saving journeys like Nashami’s are only possible thanks to the selfless generosity of organ donors and their families, and the efforts of Hayat, the National Program for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues.