For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, SES aviation took to the skies to deliver a donor organ for an 8-month-old boy. This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, according to UNN.
The 8-month-old Okhmatdyt patient urgently needed a liver transplant. The only chance for life was granted by a family who, in their moment of grief, consented to posthumous donation,
Time was limited, as a donor organ remains viable outside the body for only about 10 hours. Within this window, it was necessary to perform the retrieval, transport the liver to Kyiv, and carry out the transplant.
Conventional transport did not leave enough time for the organ's delivery, so the State Emergency Service (SES) joined the operation. While surgeons were performing the retrieval, the crew was already preparing for takeoff. Together with the Defense Forces, who ensured safety in the air, the rescuers carried out the transport upon which the child's life depended.
In just 1.5 hours, the helicopter delivered the priceless cargo to Kyiv, gaining 6 critical hours for the transplant. As soon as the helicopter landed, the transplant team immediately began the operation.
As a reminder
On May 8, the family of a deceased man donated his heart to save a 16-year-old teenager. Police escorted the organ to a helicopter for transport to Kyiv.