Sara's Journey: International Collaboration Saves a Young Life

When Sara was just six months old, her life took a dramatic turn. Diagnosed with Wilms' tumour, a rare childhood kidney cancer caused by a genetic mutation, both of Sara’s kidneys had to be removed. "I noticed that the left side of her abdomen was slightly swollen," recalls Suzana, Sara's mother. 

With no option but to begin haemodialysis at such a young age, Sara’s family relocated from southern Serbia to Belgrade to access specialist treatment. Suzana reflects on those early years: "We didn’t know what the future would hold. All we could do was show up, stay hopeful, and fight for every day." Sara received chemotherapy and continued dialysis for six years. 

By the time Sara was six, she had spent her entire life in and out of hospitals. "It was very difficult while she was on dialysis, her fluid intake was restricted, and her diet had to be adjusted. She spent five hours a day, five days a week, on dialysis. She couldn't attend kindergarten," said Suzana. 

The damage from long-term central venous access for dialysis left Sara with limited options. Serbia lacked surgeons trained to perform kidney transplants, and her health continued to decline, leaving her with a critical prognosis. 

In 2019, during a visit to the University Children’s Hospital in Belgrade, Dr. Jelena Stojanovic, a Paediatric Nephrologist from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), met Sara for the first time. “She was such a bright spirit, despite everything she had been through. Curious, smiling, always asking questions about the transplant,” says Dr. Stojanovic. "It was clear she needed more than dialysis, she needed a kidney transplant, and she started preparations for it." 

A plan was developed to perform a living donor transplant in Serbia, with GOSH surgeons supporting the local team. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the plan was postponed. 

With Sara's situation becoming life-threatening, as she could not be dialysed anymore, the GOSH renal and transplant teams maintained virtual communication with clinicians in Serbia, remotely adjusting Sara’s dialysis and planning her next steps. By mid-2021, Sara’s condition had worsened. After much internal discussions, GOSH Executive Board granted special permission to bring Sara to London for a life-saving transplant; the only overseas private patient accepted during the height of the pandemic. 

Bringing Sara to GOSH in those conditions was a testament to our values, putting the patient first and working globally as One team

 Dr. Jelena Stojanovic

Sara arrived at Eagle Ward in September 2021, where her care was optimised by a multidisciplinary nephrology team. Her care included: 

• A transition from haemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis
• Nutritional support and pre-operative conditioning
• Specialist renal nursing
• Psychological and play therapy support 

In their first weeks, Suzana and Sara faced language barriers, but the team at GOSH ensured comfort by communicating in Serbian by the use of virtual interpreters. “The staff went above and beyond. They made every day special—they even created a list of Serbian words to help us communicate,” says Suzana. 

In October 2021, Sara underwent a living-related donor kidney transplant, with her mother as the donor. The kidney was transported from London Bridge Hospital to GOSH, where Mr. Nicos Kessaris, Consultant Transplant Surgeon, performed the transplant. 

I always told Sara that after the transplant, she would be able to drink more water, live a normal life, and I would be by her side every step of the way

 Suzana, Sara's Mum

Sara was discharged after two weeks, with only one short readmission for a urinary tract infection and routine stent removal. “During that difficult time, what kept me going was Sara’s smile, her fight, and her will to live. We had waited so long and gone through so much. The care at GOSH, it wasn’t just expert, it was kind, human, and personal,” says Suzana. 

After the transplant, Sara's life changed dramatically. The family returned to Serbia, where Sara now lives a normal life. She attends school regularly and even won first place in a national street dance competition. Today, Sara is thriving and is one of the top students in her class. 

“I feel free now,” says Sara. “I don’t have to go to the hospital every week. I can just be a kid.” 

Sara's care continues in Serbia through a formal collaboration between GOSH and University Children’s Hospital in Belgrade, supported by the International Society for Nephrology Sister Centre Programme. Dr. Stojanovic continues to see her annually.

Sara’s case highlights Great Ormond Street Hospital’s exceptional ability to care for some of the world’s most complex international patients. Through a multidisciplinary and holistic model, supported by close collaboration between clinicians across borders during a global health crisis, GOSH continues to lead in life-saving innovation. Its strong commitment to ongoing care after discharge is what truly sets the hospital apart.