Melahat Erol, who lives in Istanbul, was diagnosed with kidney failure 2 years ago. The unfortunate woman, who struggled with diabetes for 20 years and received dialysis treatment for 9 months, was extended a hand to life by her husband, Ümit Erol. The devoted husband lost 20 kilograms within 40 days to donate his kidney to his wife.
Melahat Erol, who lives in Istanbul, was diagnosed with diabetes 20 years ago. After 20 years, it was determined that the unfortunate woman, who was hospitalized with heart disease, had an onset of kidney failure. Melahat Erol, who was referred to dialysis by doctors, was treated here for 9 months. Ümit Erol, saddened by his wife's illness, said that he wanted to donate his kidney. Erol, who learned that his weight prevented this situation during the examinations, lost 20 kilograms in a short period of 40 days. The self-sacrificing husband, who fell from 95 kilograms to 75 kilograms, lay on the operating table for his wife. Melahat Erol, who survived the kidney transplanted with the operation performed by Yeditepe University Hospitals  Kidney Transplant Clinic Manager, is grateful to her husband. 

“I Wished I Could Drink Water As Much As I Want”

Melahat Erol, who said that she was very afraid of going into dialysis and that she was longing for many things during this period, stated, “I could not think of anything else at that moment. But it was inevitable for me, I went into dialysis for 9 months. My husband took me to dialysis. I missed drinking water so much that I used to say, 'I wish there was a lake, and I could drink water as much as I want'. Now I can drink water with peace of mind. I reward myself by eating my favorite food from time to time. Everything is even better now.”
Expressing that those who want to donate a kidney should not be afraid, Erol said, “My husband rose to his feet 3 days after he gave me his kidney. I am very healthy. He has no problems. He is working normally now. Those who want to donate a kidney should not hesitate. This is an order of God. God gave 2 kidneys, saying ‘give one to the needy’.”

“I Never Ate Bread and I Exercised Regularly”

The devoted husband Ümit Erol, who first lost 20 kilograms for his wife and then lay on the operating table, explained the difficult process they experienced with these words:
“I was 95 kilograms when I decided to donate my kidney to my wife. They said, 'You can't donate your kidney with this weight'. I focused on weight loss and lost 20 kilograms in 40 days. I never ate bread, and I did my regular walk. I was weighed in the hospital; I saw that I had dropped to 75 kilograms. When my weight dropped, the doctors said they could decide and perform the transplant immediately. I also had surgery right away. It was very good for me. My wife was saved, and so was I. I think everyone should donate their kidney.”

Diabetes Leads to Kidney Failure

Yeditepe University Hospitals Kidney Transplant Clinic Manager, stating that diabetes is one of the diseases that threaten kidney health, said, “In Turkey, the number of Type 2 diabetes is increasing in parallel with the increase in the number of overweight people due to reasons such as poor nutrition and lack of exercise. As a result, diabetes becomes the cause of kidney failure in the long term.”

Kidney Donor Should Go Down to the Ideal Weight

Our General Surgery Specialist, who explained that weight does not prevent the transplant in the kidney recipient, made the following statement: “However, weight loss is also the goal we want in terms of the general health of the recipient. The situation is different for kidney donors. If the person is outside of the healthy weight range and has a high body mass index when they apply to us, we carry out the weight loss process first. Once his/her weight is in the healthy range, we allow him/her to become a kidney donor if we are convinced, he/she will stay at his/her current weight.”

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