The late Dr Diana’s kidneys were successfully transplanted to two patients who have been on dialysis for 18 years, and her liver saved a young patient who will otherwise succumb to liver failure.
KOTA KINABALU: Dr Diana Angeles Ramirez Saldivar, the passionate wildlife conservationist who worked as a veterinarian at the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) prior to her death is now renowned not just for saving the lives of animals but also for having changed the lives of two kidney patients who have been on dialysis for 18 years and also saved the life of a young patient suffering from liver failure.
Sabah Health Department Director, Datuk Dr Christina Rundi explained that Diana’s two kidneys were successfully transplanted to the two kidney patients and that her liver has saved the young patient who would have otherwise succumbed to liver failure.
Diana’s other donated tissues include her corneas, heart valves and bones.
These will undergo processing and storage and will be used to treat and improve the lives of about 11 more patients, said Dr Christina.
She also said that Diana is considered a multi-organ donor when she donated her liver, both kidneys, heart valves, corneas and bones.
Multiple organ procurement teams from various hospitals such as the National Heart Institute (IJN), Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Selayang flew in to Kota Kinabalu to make the donation possible, she said.
All of Diana’s harvested organs and tissues were then flown immediately back to Kuala Lumpur for immediate transplant into waiting recipients.
According to Dr Christina, the deceased was Sabah’s fourth organ donor, this year.
“It is hoped that her story will be an eye-opener and raise awareness on the importance and impact of organ donation in Sabah and Malaysia,” she said.
With Diana’s contribution, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) here became one of the two hospitals in Malaysia with the most organ donors, this year.
Sharing the top spot with QEH is Penang General Hospital, while Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Baru has three donors.
There are altogether 24 organ donations in the country this year.
Dr Christina also said that it is their responsibility and duty to ensure the family and donor’s wishes are fulfilled.
“Organ donation is the most noble gift and charity that can be performed by any human being, and we do offer this service in all hospitals in Sabah. I urge all Sabahans to emulate the late Dr Diana’s kindness and pledge to donate their organs,” she said.
She also reminded donors to inform their family members of their wishes as the latter were the ones giving consent when the donor passes away.
Dr Christina also thanked all the agencies such as the Justice Department, Police Department (PDRM), Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Malaysia Airports (MAHB) and various other agencies who assisted to make the donation possible.
Dr Christina (third from right) with Dr Diana’s mother Concepcion Esperanza (fifth from right), her sister Sandra Karina (fourth from right), friends and hospital staff.
The decision to donate Diana’s organ was made by her mother, Concepcion Esperanza and her sister, Sandra Karina, who despite their grief, wanted Dr Diana to be remembered and honoured by donating her organs to Malaysians.
Their decision was also based on their knowledge concerning how much Diana loved being in Sabah and this was a way of letting a part of her stay in the State and in the country.
Her sister, Sandra described Diana, who arrived in Sabah in 2010 to work with the WRU, as a loving person who would go all out to save lives.
Diana’s longtime friend, Dr Milena Salgado also explained that everyone in Mexico is an organ donor by law because there are many lives that need to be saved.
She explained that the only way someone can opt out as a donor was by asking a lawyer to write a request that they do not want to be an organ donor.
“So, if you want to know the reason why we chose this is because Diana was always saving lives here, and this way she can continue to save lives. She did not want to leave here. This way she can make someone else happy, and that was the reason,” said Dr Milena.
To find out more about organ donation, please contact Sabah Transplant Resource Centre at 1800-88-9080 or sign up online to be an organ pledger at www.dermaorgan.gov.my.