A Sister’s Kidney and Brother-in-Law’s Liver; Couple Donate Organs to Save Brother in Double Transplant Surgery at Aster Medcity

Kochi, 13 August 2025: When Sreenath B Nair, a 43-year-old from Aluva, required a double transplant for his failing liver and kidneys, his family didn’t hesitate. His younger sister, Sreedevi, courageously offered a kidney, and his brother-in-law, Vipin M N, stepped forward to donate a part of his liver. Their incredible bond and self-sacrificial act paved the way for a complex double transplant at Aster Medcity that gave Sreenath a second chance at life.

One year prior, Sreenath who runs a travel agency in Aluva, developed a small boil on his leg. After a trip to Idukki, his condition worsened, leading to a high fever and his admission to a nearby hospital. Although the doctors there suspected a venomous bite, they discharged him after a week.

His health continued to decline, leaving him unable to walk or speak. But after consulting at Aster Medcity, the doctors determined his leg swelling was serious and his illness had progressed, necessitating immediate treatment and dialysis. Due to a low platelet count, a biopsy could not be performed, highlighting the advanced stage of his critical condition. His grave medical crisis due to Liver cirrhosis and Chronic kidney disease progressed to multi-organ failure, requiring both a liver and kidney transplant. After his condition was accurately diagnosed and treated at Aster Medcity, Sreenath and his wife, Lakshmi Priya, were left with the daunting task of finding suitable donors.

That’s when hope arrived in the form of a family bond. Sreenath’s younger sister, Sreedevi, a 38-year-old ASHA worker, immediately volunteered to donate a part of her kidney to her brother. Her decision was firm, but a liver donor was still needed. An initial attempt with Sreenath’s wife’s brother was unsuccessful as he was not a match.

The family’s prayers were answered when Vipin, Sreedevi’s husband and Sreenath’s brother-in-law, stepped forward to donate his liver. Vipin, a 42-year-old Assistant Manager at M.G Road branch Joy Alukkas, made the courageous decision despite the significant risks. This unique situation where a husband and wife would both undergo major surgery to save a family member was initially met with hesitation by doctors, who were concerned about the immense challenges it would pose to their family, which also includes two children.

The road to surgery was fraught with challenges. The medical team at Aster Medcity, led by Dr. Mathew Jacob, Senior Consultant for Hepato Pancreato Biliary & Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant, and Dr. V. Narayanan Unni, Senior Consultant – Nephrology, planned the procedure. The surgery was twice postponed due to unforeseen medical complications first due to an infection in Sreenath’s blood, (wait period was 6 months) and later because Vipin needed to address a fatty liver condition (wait period was 1.5 months) before being cleared for donation.

“This was a case of complexity, not just from a surgical standpoint but also from an ethical perspective,” said Dr. Mathew Jacob. “The family’s determination was extraordinary. We had to ensure every possible risk was mitigated. The outcome is a tribute to the family’s determination and the coordinated efforts of our entire surgical and post-operative care teams, who worked tirelessly to achieve this result.” He added.

After a recovery period spanning three months, all three individuals are now in good health. Sreenath, who has two daughters, says “What my sister Sreedevi and my brother-in-law Vipin did for me is something I can never repay,”.