Sonia Gandhi felicitates liver transplant recipient

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Monday felicitated Sanjay Kandasamy, India's first successful liver transplant recipient, as he completed 15 years post transplantation.

Kandasamy, 16, had undergone the path-breaking procedure as an 18-month-old in 1998 at Apollo Hospital here.

Gandhi interacted with the teenager and his family at her residence here.

"It is a testament not only on India's medical acumen but also of the tenacity of this young man," Gandhi was quoted by an official statement issued by the hospital.

Kandasamy, who hails from Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu, was born with a rare condition seen in one one in 12,000 babies.

"Sanjay now leads a completely normal life, goes to school like other kids, enjoys meals, plays football and wants to become a doctor to save lives. Sanjay's success helped establish liver transplantation in India," said Anupam Sibal, senior paediatric gastroenterologist in the hospital.