New Delhi, August 27, 2026: In a touching reflection of the spirit of Raksha Bandhan, a 24-year-old man has saved his five-month-old niece’s life by donating a portion of his liver at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. The complex paediatric liver transplant was led by Dr. Ashish George, Principal Consultant & Unit Head - Liver Transplant, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.

The infant, Saanvika Shukla, developed a progressive bile duct blockage that led to severe liver scarring and life-threatening liver failure, following severe jaundice that began just weeks after her birth. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, an urgent liver transplant emerged as her only chance of survival. However, detailed medical evaluations ruled out both her parents and her grandmother as eligible donors, leaving the family deeply distressed. At this critical juncture, her maternal uncle, Siwendra Kumar Pandey, volunteered to donate a part of his liver to save his sister's daughter. The liver transplant surgery was successful, and the infant recovered without any major complications. She was discharged in a stable condition after 20 days of hospitalisation.

Giving details of the case, Dr. Ashish George, Principal Consultant & Unit Head - Liver Transplant, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, "By the time the child came to us, she was critically ill and required urgent stabilization followed by liver transplant at the earliest. Performing this surgery, in a five-month-old infant is particularly challenging due to the extremely small size of the blood vessels and the technical precision required during the procedure. In this case, one of the key challenges was the small size of the vein taking blood into the liver. To address this complexity, we used a preserved vein from a cadaveric donor to overcome this challenge. The surgery was successfully performed, and after close monitoring and post-operative care, the child recovered well and was discharged after 20 days."

Liver Donor Siwendra Kumar Pandey said, “Being able to donate a portion of my liver and give my niece, a second chance at life is the greatest gift I could ever give my sister, and I am deeply grateful to the team of doctors at Fortis Shalimar Bagh for guiding us safely through every step of this journey. Seeing my niece healthy, smiling, and back in my sister's arms is the best celebration I could have ever asked for."

Saanvika’s mother said, "As a mother, watching your five-month-old baby battle for her life is a pain words cannot describe. But my brother stepped up and truly embodied what Raksha Bandhan stands for, by giving my daughter the ultimate gift of life. No thread or ritual could ever match the debt of gratitude I owe him for his sacrifice.”

Mr. Naveen Sharma, Vice President & Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh "This successful pediatric liver transplant highlights the advanced clinical capabilities, world-class infrastructure, and multidisciplinary expertise that define our surgical care at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. Operating on a five-month-old infant presents extraordinary technical challenges and overcoming them requires not only state-of-the-art technology but also precise teamwork across our paediatric intensive care, anaesthesia, and transplant teams."