Eight-year-old Azra Elif Yeşil, who was born with kidney reflux, has been given a new lease on life after receiving a successful kidney transplant from her mother at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Health Application and Research Center in Samsun.

Azra, who was born in Ordu with only one kidney, was diagnosed with kidney reflux just a few days after birth. Despite years of treatment at OMU, her condition worsened, leading doctors to recommend a kidney transplant.

A team led by Prof. Dr. Yarkın Kamil Yakupoğlu, Head of the OMU Kidney Transplant Center and Faculty Member at the Department of Urology, performed the transplant five days ago, successfully transferring a kidney from her 35-year-old mother, Tuğçe Yeşil. Now in good health, Azra is set to be discharged from the hospital.

"We Begin Discussing Transplant Options as Soon as Patients Reach the Final Stage"

Speaking to reporters, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hülya Nalçacıoğlu, a pediatric nephrology specialist at OMU Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Pediatric Health and Diseases, explained that Azra Elif suffered from vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), a condition where urine flows back into the kidneys.

"Despite surgical interventions, some children develop chronic kidney disease over time. When they reach the final stage, we begin discussing transplant procedures and dialysis options with their families. Fortunately, we were able to accelerate Azra’s transplant process before she required dialysis, and the surgery was successfully completed at our hospital. Today, she will be discharged in good health."

Dr. Nalçacıoğlu also emphasized the importance of regular pediatric nephrology check-ups for children with congenital kidney conditions:

"A person can live with just one kidney, but in Azra’s case, her single kidney also began to fail, leading to the progression of chronic kidney disease."

"A Successful Surgery with Promising Results"

Dr. Abdulmetin Ergün, a research assistant in the OMU Department of Urology, explained that Azra had been suffering from end-stage kidney failure for 1.5 years and was found to be suitable for transplant after thorough evaluations.

"The operation was a success. Post-surgery follow-ups have shown improved kidney function, and we are very pleased with the results."

"There Were Tears, Struggles, and Hardships—But We Stayed Strong and Made It"

Azra’s mother, Tuğçe Yeşil, shared the family’s long and emotional journey, explaining that they discovered her daughter’s condition when she was just six days old.

"From infancy until now, we have been in a constant battle. Although she didn’t have any major physical issues, she took much longer to recover from colds and infections, and she would tire more quickly than other children. She was exhausted, and we wanted a transplant from the very beginning—but the time had to be right. There were moments of tears, sadness, and exhaustion, but we remained strong—and in the end, we succeeded."

Now recovered along with her daughter, Tuğçe expressed her gratitude and determination:

"It’s truly an incredible feeling. If I had three kidneys and another child in the same situation, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to do it again."