07.01.2026 22:41
Ayşe Öztürk, 59, diagnosed with liver failure in Samsun and with no blood and tissue match with her son, clung to life with a liver transplanted from her daughter-in-law at Ondokuz Mayıs University.
Ayşe Öztürk, 59 years old, regained her health after receiving a liver transplant from her daughter-in-law following a diagnosis of liver failure. After the successful transplant operation carried out at Ondokuz Mayıs University, the family emphasized the importance of organ donation.
SHE DONATED HER LIVER TO HER MOTHER-IN-LAW
Öztürk, who applied to the hospital in Samsun about 1.5 years ago with complaints of back pain, was diagnosed with liver failure after detailed examinations, and doctors informed her that an urgent transplant was necessary. Living in Giresun, Öztürk applied to the OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital, where organ transplants from living donors are performed.
As a result of the tests conducted there, it was determined that Öztürk's 15-year-old daughter-in-law, 34-year-old Tuğba Öztürk, could be a donor, and with the successful operation performed on December 17, 2025, Ayşe Öztürk regained her health.
"FINDING A LIVING ORGAN DONOR IS QUITE DIFFICULT"
OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın stated to reporters that organ insufficiency is a significant public health issue that leads to serious problems for people. Aydın noted that some patients cannot be treated with medication or surgery, and the only solution is organ or tissue transplantation, saying, "While finding a cadaveric transplant and a recipient is relatively easy, finding a living organ donor is quite difficult. Of course, the main reason for this is that our public is not aware of this issue. In 2025, this is our fourth transplant."
"33 THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR ORGANS IN OUR COUNTRY"
Aydın pointed out that the health status of both the patient who underwent the transplant and the donor is good, stating, "As of this year, 1,396 people have donated organs under the guidance of our university. We are also holding panels and informational meetings on this issue. We attach great importance to this matter. However, we must know that approximately 33 thousand people are waiting for organs in our country, and their only hope is that they have no other options. Therefore, we invite everyone to donate organs."
"AS LONG AS MY WIFE IS ALIVE"
Ayşe Öztürk's son, Şenol Öztürk (40), explained that the process began due to his mother's back pain and that they learned a liver transplant was necessary as a result of the examinations. Şenol Öztürk said, "I could not find a tissue match. Thank God my wife’s tissue matched. After the necessary tests were done, we had surgery here. We are good now, thank God."
"GOD BLESS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW"
Donor Tuğba Öztürk also stated, "It was a human life; I think no one could remain indifferent to it. The importance of organ transplantation in this process is better understood when one experiences it firsthand. Therefore, people should pay more attention to this."
Ayşe Öztürk, who regained her health with the liver transplanted from her daughter-in-law, said, "May God bless my doctors and my daughter-in-law; they treated me like a child. May God turn what my daughter-in-law holds into gold."