New Delhi, 22 August 2025 — To mark 600 pediatric liver transplants, Dr Smita Malhotra and Dr. Anupam Sibal, have authored a captivating new book. This compelling work shares the real-life journeys of 25 children who underwent life-saving liver transplants. Featuring a foreword by Chief Coach, Indian Cricket Team, Former Cricketer and Former Member of Parliament Mr Gautam Gambhir. The book offers a rare and deeply human perspective on medical triumphs. Highlighting not only advances in science but also the extraordinary resilience of young patients and their families.
The book brings together 25 extraordinary stories, each one a true account of courage, love, and perseverance in the face of life-threatening illness. Drawing from more than twenty-six years of experience and over 600 pediatric liver transplants performed. The book captures intense emotional battles, the medical challenges, and the profound moments of hope that define each journey. Through detailed storytelling, the book moves beyond statistics and clinical facts to portray the human spirit that transforms despair into determination.
“This milestone is a matter of pride not just for Apollo Hospitals, but for Indian healthcare as a whole,” said Mr. P. Shivakumar, Managing Director, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. “From the day we undertook the country’s first successful pediatric liver transplant in 1998. Our mission has been to give children a chance at life and families a chance at hope.”
“When you are standing beside a child whose life is hanging by a thread, you realise that medicine is not just about science. It is about humanity, courage, and hope,” said Dr. Anupam Sibal, Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist and Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals Group. “Through this book, we wanted to give readers a glimpse into the strength of these young warriors and the sacrifices their families make. Each story reflects a battle fought with determination, where medical expertise meets the unyielding human spirit”.
Dr. Smita Malhotra, Senior Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said. “While we celebrate every triumph, we also acknowledge the heartbreaks along the way. Because they remind us of the urgency to keep advancing, to keep fighting, and to keep believing.”
Dr. Neerav Goel, Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said, “This book beautifully captures the essence of what we do each day, celebrating medical breakthroughs while honouring the emotional journeys behind them.”
In his foreword, Gautam Gambhir commends the authenticity and emotional depth of these accounts:
“This book is another example where medical professionals and families teamed up to beat death. These are not just 25 stories of pediatric liver transplantation, but 25 sagas of hope, courage, and human perseverance against all odds. The best part is that like cricket, every story is real, nothing orchestrated, nothing grey, all black and white,” said Mr. Gambhir.
Released at a time when India celebrates its advancements in pediatric liver transplantation, the book is both a tribute to medical progress and a reminder that at the heart of every medical victory lies an unbreakable human story.
