First liver transplant in Phl a success

MANILA, Philippines -  About four months ago, 51-year-old rural health physician Julito Sabornido Jr. was told he had only six months to live because of end-stage liver cancer.

Yesterday Sabornido gamely cracked jokes and posed for pictures when St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig presented him to the media to relate his story and showcase the country’s first successful adult liver transplant on first try.                   

Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, chief of the hospital’s center for liver diseases, said Sabornido was the first liver transplant patient in the country to be discharged within three weeks without medical complications after a 12-hour operation. Sabornido said he was excited to go home.                     “Thank God for giving me part two of my life,” he said.       

St. Luke’s president Jose Ledesma said the surgery was performed by a team of 36 doctors headed by Allan Concejero together with Cervantes and hepatologist Ian Homer Cua.

The P3-million cost of the operation was shouldered by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, St. Luke’s Medical Center and several donors, including Sabornido’s friends.

“Today we are saying we have a very competent, confident liver transplant team. Filipinos no longer have to go abroad for liver transplantation,” Ledesma said.

Cervantes said the patient is now ready to live a normal life again so long as he continues medication.

Sabornido, a physician based in Miamis Oriental, said he discovered his liver problem in 2006 but failed to have it diagnosed because of lack of money.

Last December, however, his condition worsened causing him to vomit blood. When his condition was diagnosed, it was discovered that he was suffering from end-stage liver cancer. 

Cervantes said he had advanced liver cirrhosis, caused by chronic hepatitis B.

“We are not God but based on statistics he has six months left to live and only liver transplant can save him,” she said. Sabornido said despite the ordeal, he never lost hope because his strong faith in God gave him strength.

Because he is still recovering from the operation, he may not yet go back to his old job. For the meantime, he would be helping St. Luke’s to encourage people with liver problems to undergo liver transplant.