When Horiye Tice, 65, who lives in Mardin, went to the doctor with a complaint of low back pain, it was understood that she had kidney failure. Tice, who was on dialysis 3 days a week for 10 months, was told by her doctors that the most effective treatment for kidney failure is a kidney transplant and operation should be done immediately. Horiye Tice, who has 9 siblings, 10 children and 17 grandchildren, continued to undergo dialysis, thinking that she could not hurt any of her relatives by taking their kidneys. Her 61-year-old brother Mehmet Halim Bengül, 4 years younger than her, insisted on giving her his kidney; but she refused every time. Horiye Tice, who lives in Mardin’s Mazıdağı district, accepted her brother’s offer when she was unable to endure the 4-hour dialysis marathon, which she entered by traveling for 1,5 hours 3 times a week. She regained her health after the operation carried out by the head of Memorial Ataşehir Hospital Organ Transplant Center Prof.Yalçın Polat.
Horiye Tice expressed her happiness after the transplant with the following words: “My brother, whom I always fought with when I was little, has now saved my life.”
“We used to fight with my brother Mehmet all the time and I was beaten by him, now he paid his loyalty debt to me by giving his kidney. At first I was very worried not for myself but for him. He also has 2 children, I was very afraid that his children could be fatherless. My brother’s life was all I thought about when I was going into the surgery. But we had a very successful operation period and all my fears were over. I would do the same for my brother without thinking. The exhaustion I experienced due to dialysis prevented me from loving my grandchildren.”
Tice stated that the dialysis process had a negative effect on her whole life and said,“ I have 10 children and 17 grandchildren. When I was on dialysis, I was constantly feeling weak and unhappy. My biggest sorrow was not being able to love my grandchildren fully. Now, after getting better and returning to Mardin, my first act will be to gather them all and love them individually. “
“I got up soon after the transplant”
Mehmet Halim Bengül, who gave his kidney to his sister expressed his feelings; “When my sister was on dialysis, we were all very sorry for her. When I heard that she needed a kidney transplant, I wanted to give my kidney without thinking. My family’s health is more important to me than anything else. My sister did not want me to be harmed, initially because I had a leg injury. But since her life is at stake, I said that would make me happier. Right now, both of us are in very good health. Saving a person’s life means doing good to all humanity. Therefore, I would like to thank our esteemed doctors and Memorial”.
Prof. Yalçın Polat gave information about kidney transplantation to Horiye Tice
Horiye Tice, who has been on dialysis for 9 months, has been using medication for her blood pressure problem for 2 years. After learning that she had kidney failure, she started dialysis for 5 hours 3 days a week. She applied to us with her donor, her brother Mehmet Bengül. With the kidney she received from her brother, Mrs. Tice’s all kidney functions have now returned to normal. Kidney functions of her donor are also normal. Now Mrs. Tice will have a more comfortable social life since she doesn’t need dialysis anymore.