Brotherhood Becomes Lifeline: Cop Saves Sibling with Liver Donation at Wockhardt Hospitals
Mumbai: In an inspiring testament to courage, family bonds, and selfless service, a Maharashtra Police officer has given his younger brother a second chance at life by donating a portion of his liver.
The life-saving transplant was performed by Dr. Swapnil Sharma, Consultant – Liver Transplant and Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, along with a specialised multidisciplinary team.
The younger brother, aged 38, had been struggling with acute-on-chronic liver failure and arrived at the hospital in a severely deteriorated condition.
His jaundice was advanced, his blood pressure required medical support, and doctors warned that without an urgent transplant, survival was unlikely. Amid this crisis, his elder brother — also a serving police officer — stepped forward without hesitation and offered to be the donor.
According to Dr. Sharma, the donor’s resolve was unwavering from the very beginning. He shared with the medical team that both brothers had encountered life-threatening situations throughout their careers in uniform — but this time, the fight was personal. Saving his brother was not a duty, he said, but a promise.
Following extensive medical assessments and compatibility evaluations, the elder sibling was declared fit for donation. The transplant procedure that followed was technically demanding, requiring meticulous coordination, precision and constant monitoring.
Liver transplants in acute-on-chronic cases carry heightened risks, making teamwork essential. At Wockhardt Hospitals, the operation brought together transplant surgeons, anaesthetists, intensivists, radiologists, trained operating theatre and ICU nurses, physiotherapists, and clinical nutrition experts — all working seamlessly to ensure success.
The surgery concluded successfully, and both brothers began recovering under close supervision. Over the following days, they steadily regained strength, responding positively to treatment, rehabilitation and guided post-operative care.
Hospital representatives shared that while police officers are often celebrated for bravery on the field, this story reveals a different kind of heroism — one rooted in love, sacrifice and family devotion. Today, the brothers are on the path back to health, preparing to return to their lives and responsibilities.
Their journey stands as a reminder that heroism does not always come in the form of badges and uniforms. Sometimes, it is found in the willingness to give a part of oneself — quite literally — so another can live.
Stuti Tiwari joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Hindi Content Writing Intern. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Delhi. With a strong interest in health journalism, digital media, and storytelling, Stuti focuses on writing, editing, and curating Hindi health content. She works on producing informative, engaging, and accurate articles to make healthcare news and updates more understandable and relatable for Hindi-speaking audiences.