A YOUNG woman who caught a life-threatening blood disease lost both of her arms and legs to the infection.
Beyza Dogan, 24, a dental nurse, contracted the rare meningitis infection called meningococcal four years ago.
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The disease attacked her kidneys, leading to blood poisoning and she was left having to have all four of her limbs amputated.
The young woman was saved when her mother Mihriban, 54, donated a kidney two years ago.
And her horror ordeal spurred Beyza to start researching for a double arm transplant.
The 24-year-old, who was living in Cologne, Germany, moved to Antalya, Turkey, where she found a surgeon will to do the procedure.
Professor Omer Ozkan, is lecturer at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine and world-renowned specialist on double arm and face transplants.
After various tests, Beyza was put on the waiting list.
Dr Levent Yilmaz, Beyza’s local GP in Turkey, said: “During her controls, I thought that the most suitable place for multiple limb transplants was Akdeniz University Hospital.
“And I immediately met with Dr Omer Ozkan and made an appointment with him for Beyza,” he said.
Dr Ozkan said the former expat “continues her life, but she has certain problems” associated with her prostheses.
“She seems motivated and willing for limb transplants. She is a suitable patient for indications.
“There are no problems with the tests so far. When deemed appropriate, she will be placed on the transplant list.
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“When a suitable donor is found, there is no obstacle in terms of transplantation for Beyza.”
Dr Ozkan said some 43 patients are already waiting for a double arm transplants at the Organ Transplantation Center in Turkey.
Beyza, on the other hand, said that she’s mostly over the ordeal from four years ago and is ready to move on with her life.
“Dr Omer Ozkan is very experienced in this. I am very happy, and I am eagerly waiting for his good news. My only dream is to have surgery as soon as possible,” she said.
Meningococcus disease is vaccine-preventable and affects about 330,000 people in developing countries.
It is best known as a cause of meningitis, but can also be the result of sepsis and can be fatal if not treated.
