Miracle in Istanbul: Srdjan Koljevic’s Life-Saving Liver Transplant in Turkey
Life often imitates art, but for Srdjan Koljevic, a celebrated Serbian film director and screenwriter, the script of his own life took a harrowing turn in 2018. Diagnosed with metastatic colorectal carcinoma, Srdjan faced a battle that few scripted dramas could fully capture. After years of intensive treatments and multiple surgeries, the final act of his survival rested on a single, complex possibility: a living donor liver transplant in Turkey. This is not just a medical case study; it is a profound narrative of friendship, international medical excellence, and the relentless pursuit of a "New Hope."
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The Anatomy of a Screenwriter’s Greatest Challenge
Srdjan Koljevic, born in 1966, has spent his life telling stories. As a film director and a screenwriter teaching Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, he understood structure, conflict, and resolution. But [00:00] in 2018, he encountered a conflict that no pen could easily resolve: colorectal carcinoma. This type of cancer, while treatable if caught early, had metastasized to his liver, a condition that complicated his prognosis significantly.
For four and a half years [00:24], Srdjan underwent the standard of care, including a primary operation in November 2018. However, liver involvement often acts as a bottleneck in cancer treatment. When the liver is compromised by secondary tumors, systemic treatments like chemotherapy can only do so much. The liver is the body’s chemical processing plant; without its full function, the fight against cancer becomes an uphill battle.
Metastatic liver disease requires a specialized approach. Often, traditional resection (cutting out the tumor) isn't possible if the tumors are too numerous or strategically placed. This is where the concept of a liver transplant for metastatic colorectal cancer comes into play—a cutting-edge field where Turkey has established itself as a global leader.
A Testament of Brotherhood: Bojan Vuletic’s Sacrifice
In the world of organ transplantation, the shortage of deceased donors is a global crisis. Srdjan’s story took a turn toward the extraordinary when his best friend of over 20 years, Bojan Vuletic [00:41], stepped forward. Bojan, also a screenwriter and director, realized that the only way to save Srdjan was a living donor liver transplant.
A living donor transplant involves taking a portion of a healthy person's liver and transplanting it into the recipient. The liver is the only organ in the human body capable of full regeneration. Within weeks, both the donor's remaining liver and the transplanted portion in the recipient will grow back to full size. However, the emotional and physical weight of such a decision is immense.
Bojan didn't hesitate [00:54]. He told Srdjan immediately that he could count on him. This act sparked a wave of solidarity; eventually, 35 colleagues and friends [03:47] offered to be tested as donors. This level of support is rare and speaks to Srdjan's character, but it was Bojan who ultimately paved the way for the journey to Istanbul.
Overcoming Blood Type Hurdles
Initially, Bojan believed his blood type was A, which he thought might disqualify him [02:03]. In organ transplants, blood type compatibility is traditionally a primary requirement. However, modern medical advancements, especially in centers like Medical Park Istanbul, allow for complex cross-matches and immunological preparations that expand the donor pool. Through a meticulous testing process, they determined the path forward was viable.
Why Turkey is the Epicenter for Liver Transplants
Srdjan and Bojan found their way to Turkey through a recommendation from the Turkish Embassy in Belgrade [01:03]. This is a common path for international patients. Turkey has invested billions into its healthcare infrastructure, creating "Medical Cities" that rival or exceed Western standards. Specifically, Medical Park Istanbul has become a sanctuary for complex organ transplants.
Turkey performs some of the highest numbers of liver transplants globally per year. This volume translates into high success rates, as surgeons and medical teams have seen and managed almost every possible complication. For a patient like Srdjan, with a history of carcinoma, the precision required is absolute.
| Feature | Turkey (Medical Park) | USA / UK |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting Time | Minimal (with Living Donor) | Can take years |
| Surgical Technology | Robotic/Laparo-assisted | Standard Advanced |
| Success Rates | Over 90% (Center specific) | 85-90% |
| International Patient Support | Dedicated 24/7 Concierge | Variable |
The Architect of Survival: Prof. Dr. Deniz Balci
The success of Srdjan’s surgery is largely attributed to Prof. Dr. Deniz Balci [01:32] and his specialized team. Dr. Balci is renowned for his extensive research and clinical practice in liver surgery. For Srdjan, the process began with a "Skype conversation" and a deep dive into the literature [01:51].
Dr. Balci evaluated Srdjan’s case with international experts, ensuring they stayed within "consensus guidelines" [01:53]. In oncology, the decision to transplant a patient with metastatic cancer is delicate. One must be certain that the cancer is localized to the liver and that the transplant will offer a definitive survival advantage rather than just a temporary fix. Dr. Balci’s careful evaluation of the documentation was the green light Srdjan needed.
The Intricacies of Living Donor Liver Transplantation
A living donor liver transplant (LDLT) is a marvel of modern medicine. It requires two simultaneous operations: one to harvest the donor lobe and one to prepare the recipient for the new liver. The donor operation is performed first, usually using a right-lobe or left-lobe graft depending on the weight and anatomy of both parties.
For Bojan, the donor, the safety protocols were paramount. Turkey’s transplant laws and medical ethics are incredibly strict. A donor must be a volunteer, fully informed of the risks, and physically capable of recovering without long-term health deficits. The medical team at Medical Park Istanbul utilized advanced imaging to ensure that Bojan’s remaining liver volume was sufficient for his own needs [03:25].
Regeneration: The Miracle of the Liver
What makes this possible is the liver’s regenerative capacity. Within 48 hours of surgery, the liver begins to grow. By the 6-month mark, both Srdjan and Bojan will have livers that are virtually full-sized. This biological feature is what allows surgeons to "share" a single organ between two lives.
Beyond Surgery: The Medical Park Care Standard
Surgery is only half the battle. Post-operative care is where lives are secured. Bojan speaks highly of the "nurses, sisters, and all the people" at Medical Park [03:51]. For international patients, the emotional stress of being in a foreign country is offset by the warmth and hospitality of the Turkish medical staff.
Recovery involves intensive monitoring of immunosuppression levels. Because the body’s natural instinct is to reject foreign tissue, patients must take medication for the rest of their lives. However, the goal of Dr. Balci’s team was to "minimize the risk" [05:20] at every step, giving Srdjan the confidence to face this "miracle experience."
Navigating the Logistics of International Transplantation
For many patients, the barrier to a life-saving transplant is cost. In the United States, a liver transplant can cost upwards of $800,000. In Turkey, the costs are significantly more manageable, often ranging from $60,000 to $90,000, which includes the surgery for both donor and recipient, hospital stays, and initial medications.
The "Medical Park" ecosystem is designed to handle "the whole team" [03:43]. From the moment Srdjan arrived from Serbia, the logistics—facilitated by agencies and embassy connections—were seamless. This allowed the focus to remain where it needed to be: on healing and friendship.
The Final Script: A New Beginning and New Hope
Srdjan woke up a "new man" [04:38]. For someone who had been fighting cancer for four and a half years, the transplant was a "head start" [03:02]. It provided a reset button for his health, a "New Beginning, New Hope, New Opportunity, New Chance" [03:09].
The imagery of Srdjan and Bojan walking down the hospital corridors together [05:05] is the ultimate resolution to this story. It is a testament to the fact that with the right medical expertise, a selfless friend, and a world-class facility like Medical Park Istanbul, even the most challenging life scripts can have a happy ending.
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GET A FREE QUOTEFull Video Transcript
[00:00] My name is Srdjan Koljevic, I was born in 1966. I'm a film director and a screenwriter and I teach screenwriting at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade.
[00:15] My name is Bojan Vuletic. I'm a scriptwriter and a film director in Belgrade, also teaching in the film school, film academy.
[00:24] I got sick with colorectal carcinoma in 2018 and had a first operation in November of 2018. So practically for four and a half years I'm fighting with this disease.
[00:41] I know Srdjan for more than 20 years and in the past two years when it was clear that the transplantation of his liver is the only option, I tell him immediately that he can count on me.
[01:03] Luckily, but you have to have some luck as well, luckily through a friend who is in the Turkish Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, we find the path to Doctor Balci. We read all his articles in the literature, contacted him, had two Skype conversations.
[01:19] He very carefully examined our documentation and then consulted his colleagues.
[01:32] (Prof. Dr. Deniz Balci): We studied and evaluated the patient extensively and the possible donor of the patient was his best friend. They approached us and we evaluated their results, then invited them to Istanbul for further evaluation.
[01:49] Discussing with international experts and remaining within the consensus guidelines, we decided that living donor liver transplantation is a good indication for our patients.
[02:03] Bojan was convinced that his blood type was A, so this wouldn't work. So through a friend, an actor who on Instagram published that I'm looking for a liver donor, Bojan was the one who I asked to collect all the names of the people who wanted to donate liver.
[02:27] And I was very much touched by the fact that 35 colleagues, friends, people from not only from my country but from the region, even one Turkish director... So I am of course tremendously lucky that I have a friend like Bojan who without hesitation immediately reacted and wanted to donate.
[02:55] Definitely this prolonged my life. Definitely now, after being since 4 years fighting with this disease, now I'm in a position to have a head start to fight again the new cycles. So for me, this is new beginning, New Hope, new opportunity, new chance.
[03:30] (Prof. Dr. Deniz Balci): We're very happy that the living donor liver transplantation was performed as planned and became a life-saving treatment for our patients who approached us from Serbia.
[03:43] The whole team with Doctor Balci on the head is absolutely amazing, especially the nurses, sisters, and all people who are doing in Medical Park. Not just the doctors but literally everybody who is doing here, they make our lives much much better, much easier to overcome all this very complicated and very stressful period.
[04:19] And beside them, I also want to thank the beautiful people from the agency, especially our friend and colleague Fatima, who was very helpful in communication between great Turkish professionals and us who are coming from abroad.
[04:38] I woke up a new man. And I like to thank the organ transplant center in the hospital for the care, treatment, and support, and especially Dr. Balci, Dr. Kozoklar... which are people with vision, not only with skill but also with vision.
[05:07] They were very cautious about each step proceeding this. They were doing everything to minimize the risk and that is also very important and gave me all the confidence. So this is like a miracle experience for me.
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