A 58-year-old Palauan woman, Mrs. Mildred, who suffered from primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) leading to advanced liver cirrhosis, has successfully undergone a life-saving living donor liver transplant in Taiwan—marking the first such case for a patient from Palau.
Following medical evaluation by Dr. Chun-Chang Lin, Deputy Superintendent of the Department of Surgery at Mackay Memorial Hospital, liver transplantation was deemed necessary. Her son, a firefighter, generously donated part of his liver after being confirmed medically suitable.
With the support of the hospital’s International Medical Center, the transplant surgery was successfully performed on August 21, 2025, and Mrs. Mildred was discharged 25 days later. Although she experienced postoperative biliary stricture three months after surgery, the condition was effectively treated through endoscopic stenting and dilation, allowing her to regain her health.
PBC is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the bile ducts in the liver, leading to inflammation, bile accumulation, and eventually liver fibrosis and cirrhosis if untreated. In severe cases, liver transplantation becomes the only viable treatment option.
Mrs. Mildred is expected to return to Palau on March 26 and will continue regular follow-up visits in Taiwan every three months. This successful case highlights the strength of Taiwan–Palau medical cooperation and Taiwan’s commitment to advancing international healthcare under the spirit of “Taiwan can help.”
