New liver equals new life for Michael
It's not uncommon for parents-to-be to wonder how their unborn child's life
will unfold. Will he grow up to be president? Will she be the one to find a cure
for cancer? Will he play football with the Bears or basketball with the Bulls?
Typical questions, you might say. Every now and then, however, a curve ball is
tossed straight out of left field and into your life. Shaking your head, you
wonder, "What just happened and why?"
In 1997, Children's Memorial formed a comprehensive
transplantation program and recruited a world-class pediatric liver
transplantation team.
New parents Anthony and Lisa asked themselves that same question
about eight months ago when their 7-week-old son, Michael, was diagnosed
with biliary atresia, a fatal disease that blocks the function of the bile
ducts.
"This was the last thing we ever expected," says Lisa. "As parents, we have
hopes and dreams for our children, and we want to see as few complications as
possible. But when something unexpected like this happens, you need to
reevaluate your expectations."
Anthony and Lisa's emotional
roller coaster ride began in August when Michael's pediatrician noticed he was jaundiced at 6
weeks of age; Michael immediately was sent to Children's Memorial Hospital.
At first, Anthony and Lisa didn't know how serious the situation really was.
Then, after waiting on pins and needles for six days for the blood and liver biopsy
results to come in, the young parents received the news — Michael had biliary
atresia. Estella
Alonso, MD , hepatologist and
gastroenterologist, and medical director of the liver
transplantation program
,
was called in for the case. Dr. Alonso is considered to be one of the country's
leading experts in liver failure in children.
Undeniably, there is never a good time to get sick, but
being at the right place at the right time may have proven to be a blessing for
Anthony, Lisa and Michael. In 1997, Children's Memorial formed a comprehensive
transplantation program and recruited a world-class pediatric liver
transplantation team. The team is led by Peter
F. Whitington, MD
, an
international expert in pediatric liver disease and transplantation. His
colleagues include liver transplantation surgeon Riccardo
Superina, MD
, surgical director of the liver transplantation
program, and Dr. Alonso.
One of Michael's first surgeries included attaching a length of his intestine
to his bile duct (this helps drain the bile from the liver). The outlook was
favorable for about two weeks, but then Michael's condition started to
deteriorate. He went back into surgery for minor adjustments, only to end up
with the same results. "Even before his first surgery," says Lisa, "we knew that
this would only be a temporary solution for the disease." Eventually, Michael
would need a liver transplant.
Meanwhile, the clock was still running. Michael, fortunately, was in
relatively good health, but his doctors were concerned that his condition would
worsen if they waited any longer. Generally, a healthy child is a better
candidate for transplantation rather than one whose health is failing.
A liver transplantation, of course, meant asking another question: where do
you get a liver? It's estimated that about 53,000 people are on waiting lists
for transplants; almost 4,000 people died last year while waiting for an
organ.
"We talked to several other parents at the hospital who were in the same
predicament we were. After hearing about the advantages of living-donor
transplants versus cadaver liver transplants, we decided that's what we needed
to do," Anthony says. Today, living-donor transplants are commonly done, and
their success rate is more than 90 percent.
The couple then sat down with Dr. Alonso, who encourages living-donor
transplants, and discussed the intricate details of what lay before them. "While
the surgery itself poses a minimal risk to the donor, it offers an important
psychological edge to parents who feel helpless while waiting for a cadaver
organ to become available," says Dr. Alonso. "It's a way of taking control when
everything seems chaotic."
Early on, Lisa was ruled out as a potential donor because she had certain
health problems, so Anthony underwent testing to see if he would be a viable
match as a donor. "I was amazed things went so quickly after that," Anthony
says. "I thought we had a few more weeks for testing… until I found out that I
had a date with the operating room the following Monday. I guess you could say I
was surprised." Anthony was checked out from head to toe — he had a variety of
blood tests, a CT scan, EKG, angiogram and psychiatric interview. "It was the
most comprehensive physical anyone could ever have," jokes Anthony.
But what came afterward was far from a laughing matter. Three days before
Thanksgiving, surgeons at Northwestern Memorial Hospital removed a portion of
Anthony's liver, which would later that day be transplanted into Michael at
Children's Memorial. Meanwhile, Lisa and her family and friends waited
anxiously. Playing the waiting game was just part of the experience, she says.
Up until that point, the hospital had been a home to them 35 of 90 days. They
even spent time at the nearby Ronald McDonald House after the transplant.
Both operations were a success, and within 72 hours Anthony joined his wife,
son and family.
Although Michael is a happy, healthy little boy, he's not entirely out of the
woods yet. "He looks great, and his blood counts are wonderful," says Mounif
El-Youssef, MD, attending physician in the division of gastroenterology and
actively involved in Michael's care, "but it'll be a few more months before we
know for sure if his tiny body will accept or reject the new organ."
Looking at the 32-year-old father today holding the tiny, smiling child, it's
hard to imagine that just a few months earlier his life — and his son's —rested
in the hand of others. "We're very fortunate that Children's Memorial has such a
top-notch transplant team," says Anthony. "The physicians, nurses and other
hospital staff members have taken their time to help us better understand
Michael's condition. And for their expertise and patience, we'll be forever
grateful."
Children's Memorial Hospital seeks philanthropic funding to enhance its
programs and services. As a proud partner of the Children's Miracle Network
(CMN), all funds raised in the Chicago area through CMN also benefit Children's
Memorial. To find out how your support can help the hospital better serve
children and families, please contact the Children's Memorial Foundation at
773.880.4237 or Foundation@childrensmemorial.org.