Royally funded lung transplant succeeds for Moroccan woman Salma, family says

Salma, the young Moroccan woman whose medical treatment was ordered by King Mohammed VI following a public appeal on social media, has successfully undergone a complex lung transplant abroad, according to sources close to her family.

The sources told Hespress AR that the surgery was successful and that Salma’s condition remains stable. She is currently recovering in the hospital, where she continues to receive post-operative care and close medical monitoring.

According to the same sources, the procedure went smoothly, and her initial recovery has shown encouraging signs.

Salma suffers from cystic fibrosis, a chronic inherited disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. The condition causes thick mucus to accumulate in the lungs, leading to recurrent infections, progressive respiratory decline, and, in advanced stages, the need for a lung transplant as the only viable treatment option.

Hespress previously reported that King Mohammed VI instructed authorities to fully cover Salma’s medical care after her online appeal reached the Palace. She was first transferred to the Military Hospital in Rabat for examinations and treatment before being prepared for transfer to a specialized medical facility abroad to undergo the transplant.

Sources close to the family said the successful operation marks a significant milestone in Salma’s treatment. She will remain under close medical supervision in the coming weeks as part of the standard post-transplant care protocol.

Salma traveled to Paris in mid-May with her mother after King Mohammed VI ordered full medical coverage for her condition. Her appeal, shared widely on social media, sought assistance to finance the costly lung transplant, which her family could not afford.

Hespress also previously learned that the royal support extended beyond covering medical and surgical expenses. It also included accommodation, transportation, and logistical assistance, with a driver and a social worker assigned to support Salma and her mother throughout the course of her treatment and stay abroad.