Wadia Hospital Hosted Liver Transplant Support Group Meet 2025 for Children and Families

Mumbai: Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, in collaboration with the Child Liver Foundation, hosted a Liver Transplant Support Group Meet 2025 at the hospital campus.

The meet aimed to give both pre-transplant and post-transplant children, along with their families, a safe and warm space to share experiences, learn from experts, and connect with others who understand their journey. Dr Darius Mirza, Dr Abhishek Mathur, Dr Shailesh Sable, Dr Pradnya Bendre, Dr Gayatri Munghate, Dr Abha Nagral, Dr Shivangi, and Dr Saurin were present during the support group meeting.

The hospital conducted the programme to make the day meaningful and comforting. The welcome and introduction session was led by the palliative care team, focusing on emotional well-being and holistic care.

This is followed by engagement activities, interactive games, and fun sessions that help children bond and feel relaxed. Families enjoyed lunch and fellowship hour, giving them time to connect and build long-term support circles. One of the most touching parts of the day was experience-sharing, where parents and children narrate their journeys, struggles, and victories.

The event ended with an Interactive FAQ Panel, where the liver transplant team answered questions about evaluation, surgery, medicines, long-term care, and lifestyle.

Today, liver problems in children are rising, mainly due to metabolic disorders, infections, genetic diseases, and untreated jaundice in infancy. Common symptoms include persistent jaundice, abdominal swelling, poor weight gain, vomiting, repeated infections, easy bruising, and loss of appetite. Many of these children need long-term monitoring, specialised care, and in severe cases, liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation can give a new lease of life to children. Hence, this support group meeting plays a critical role in educating the parents. Support groups play a strong role in helping families cope with emotional stress, medical confusion, and the long recovery journey. Families going through a liver transplant journey face many challenges, from medical stress to emotional fear and uncertainty.

This support group meeting was designed to give them clarity, confidence, and comfort. When parents hear real stories from other families, they feel less alone and more prepared for what lies ahead. Our goal is to guide them with clear information about pre-transplant evaluation, surgery, medicines, and long-term follow-up, while also creating a warm space where children can interact, play, and feel supported.

“We are proud to host this support group meeting because we believe families deserve not just treatment, but continuous support, understanding, and hope. Every transplant journey is emotional, and our team wants to walk with these families before, during, and after surgery. Seeing children smile, play, and connect reminds us why such gatherings are important. We hope this initiative strengthens community bonding and helps parents feel empowered and informed,” said Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children.

The purpose of this event was to build community awareness, promote emotional support, encourage peer learning, and ensure families receive trusted medical guidance directly from specialists. Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children remains committed to delivering world-class liver care and patient-centred support and improving their quality of life.