“Ahmad was first referred to me in July of 2022 with advanced lung failure due to Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), by a personal friend from France who was then in charge of a lung transplant programme in the Middle East,” says Dr. Kumud Dhital, Programme Director Lung Transplantation, Marengo Asia Hospitals. He believed that Ahmad would have a higher chance of getting a lung transplant quickly in India.  ILD, formerly known as pulmonary fibrosis, is characterised by scar tissue that gradually and permanently replaces healthy lungs. It often begins with symptoms of shortness during physical exercise, exhaustion, and coughing before progressing to full-time oxygen need and gradual immobility. The causes are multifaceted and include factors including genetic, autoimmune, exposure to birds or dangerous materials, and more.  Annual reports of cases in India total almost one million. Following this landmark case, frequent referrals for lung transplant evaluation have significantly increased in Ahmedabad. It has been an honour to guide this sizable team of collaborators. I want to express my gratitude to the critical care nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, and other associated staff members in addition to my clinical colleagues for their unwavering commitment to their jobs.  The tremendous increase in the quality of life of people who have received successful lung transplantation, as in Ahmad’s case, is incredibly gratifying. Ahmad is almost fully recovered and will keep getting better. I wish him a safe return to his family and look forward to playing with his little children once more.

“With the success of the heart transplant Programme, where we performed 40 heart transplants, we were equipped with a senior team for the Lung Transplant Programme launch to position ourselves as an emerging centre of excellence for organ transplants,” says Dr. Dhiren Shah, Director & HOD Heart Transplant Programme, Marengo CIMS Hospital. Clinical excellence must be at an extremely high level for the Lung Transplant Programme. With the first-ever bilateral lung transplant in Gujarat having been successful, we are prepared to work as a team to achieve multiple milestones and change the face of healthcare. For individuals with severe lung disorders such ILD, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension, lung transplantation is their only option. Even with medical treatment, some illnesses continue to get worse. One of the main causes of late detection—practically at the final stage—is ignorance. We anticipate that the Lung Transplant Programme at Marengo CIMS Hospital’s success will encourage early referrals for lung transplants, saving an increasing number of lives.