Beautiful and historic | Son gifts dad with organ in BVI’s first-ever kidney transplant
By Kamal Haynes, BVI News Staff
When 28-year-old donor Nico Salmon discovered that his father Neville needed a kidney, he had no doubts gifting his 54-year-old dad one of his.
He said it was an easy decision to make after finding out he was a compatible donor and also learning that the survival rate of living with one kidney was high.
“There was no nervousness; nothing at all. Once I knew I could continue my life journey with just one, I was ok. And he, [my dad], would get the other one to continue with his life’s journey,” young Salmon told BVI News a day after the transplant.
“From the beginning, that is all I wanted. Just tell me the date, when it’s going to happen. I understand that I have to do some testing, and all in my head was just the date. On Friday (the day before the surgery) I was so excited. I just couldn’t wait for the transplant to happen. I’d be ok and he’d be ok and that was just it,” added Nico, who encouraged persons not to be afraid of becoming a donor.
Historic surgery
The Salmons’ surgery, which was done at the Bougainvillea Clinic, is the first-ever kidney transplant to be done in the territory.
This is according to owner and Medical Director of the Road Town-based medical facility Dr Heskith Vanterpool during a media conference on Sunday, December 8.
Dr Vanterpool said the surgery which was conducted on Saturday, December 7, had both patients back on their feet in less than 24 hours.
Results showed almost immediately after
Dr Vanterpool said positive medical results started to show for the kidney recipient shortly after the surgery had been completed. He said Neville started generating urine right after receiving his kidney replacement.
“Your normal output of urine in 24 hours is about 1.5 to 2 litres. This man has already passed 2.8 litres in six hours,” Dr Vanterpool said.
“There’s something in the blood that we measure called the creatinine that tells how bad the kidney function is. The normal amount is about 1.2 for us here in the BVI. Before he had the transplant, he was up to 18 which means his kidney was really not functioning. And by this morning, it had come down to eight. By tomorrow it will come down to four, and hopefully, within a week or less it will be normal.”
A team of nine doctors conducted the transplant. This team included Dr Dwayne Thwaites (Diplomat of American Board of Urology), Dr Obi Davies-Ekwenna (Transplant Surgeon), Dr Craig Stoutt (Anesthesia and Intensive Care) and Dr Adeyinka Orimoloye (Medical Internist). They were accompanied by six nurses and other assistants.
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Speechless….Speedy recovery and long life to both….Love has no end
Nice job Doc!!! NHI???
ANYTHING LEFT IN THE NHI ?
Stupid a** shutup and set your backside down your a** should be glad
NHI do not cover kidney transplant. Smh!! I saw the coverage live on JtV when Dr. Vanterpool said that.
That’s awesome. It gives us faith in the medical system in the BVI.
To Nico you are selfless gentleman and I wish you God’s divine blessings upon your life.
This is truly good news that a surgery of this magnitude was performed in the VI and by locals. Really historic and kudos to Dr. Vanterpool for taking us further along in health care in the Territory.
Dr Obi Davies-Ekwenna (Transplant Surgeon), and Dr Adeyinka Orimoloye (Medical Internist) are Nigerians not BVI locals. Thanks to Dr. Vanterpool, the Purple Palace and the BVI at large for the platform and speedy recovery to both father and son.
Congratulations to all involved!….wonderful to hear these transplants are now available in the BVI’s
That is wonderful news for both father and son! And now that they have one kidney each, they have to take extra special care of it. First, by drinking lots of water, always; by eating foods that help the kidney and avoiding those that harm it. Of course, whatever they do, they should first seek clearance from their physicians. I pray they have long lives and good health.
Good advice, Sly Mongoose. I had a cousin who lost a kidney in her 20’s and she recently died in her 80’s, so it is possible, but they must mind their lifestyle.
Great work! May the Almighty continue to guide and protect all….
Did anyone noticed that two of the surgeons are Nigerians? Dr. Obi Davies-Ekwenna (Transplant Surgeon) and Dr Adeyinka Orimoloye (Medical Internist). Thank God. I wish father and son a speedy recovery. Kudos to our Purple palace.
congrats Bouganvilla! where’s the pic of the actual surgeon who did the transplant?