Dad donates part of liver to save daughter's life

8 hours ago

Joanne WrittleWest Midlands health correspondent

Twenty-two-month-old Harriet has an even closer bond with her dad after he donated a fifth of his liver to save her life

BBC Harriet sits on her bike in the garden looking at her dad and smiling. He is wearing a grey top and smiles back at her. Harriet is wearing a pink outfit. — Twenty-two-month-old Harriet has an even closer bond with her dad after he donated a fifth of his liver to save her life

Twenty-two-month-old Harriet and her dad Rory share a very special bond.

He saved her life by donating 20 per cent of his liver - the size of a soft drinks can - in operations which took place simultaneously at Birmingham Children's and the Queen Elizabeth Hospitals.

"She's full of smiles, she's walking and exploring things and she comes out with new words every day," said Rory, 34, a farmer near Whitchurch in Shropshire.

Doctors say ten to 15 per cent of liver transplants are from living donors, usually a relative. Birmingham is among three centres in the UK that can do them. The others are in London and Leeds.

Rory shows Harriet the scar on his abdomen after surgery to remove part of his liver for her in operations which took place in April

Rory lifts his top to show Harriet the scar on his tummy. She is looking at the scar. Her mother Emily sits next to them. — Rory shows Harriet the scar on his abdomen after surgery to remove part of his liver for her in operations which took place in April

At just eight weeks old, Harriet was diagnosed with an enzyme deficiency in her liver, Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsion Deficiency.

By the time she was one, doctors said a transplant was her best hope.

Most liver transplants are from deceased donors, but live transplants are possible if a match can be found.

After months of physical and psychological tests, doctors found Rory was a match to donate part of his liver, in operations which took place in April at Birmingham Children's Hospital and across the city at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Harriet was in hospital when her parents were told she needed a liver transplant

Family picture Harriet sitting up in hospital — Harriet was in hospital when her parents were told she needed a liver transplant

Leah Ramdharry, live liver transplant co-ordinator at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said it was "emotional" when the transplant went ahead

Leah smiles into camera — Leah Ramdharry, live liver transplant co-ordinator at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said it was "emotional" when the transplant went ahead

Even at the last minute, the transplant could have been halted if surgeons did not think Rory's liver was healthy enough when they began to operate.

Leah Ramdharry, live liver transplant co-ordinator at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: "We were all pretty tense that morning, but we were thrilled that it went ahead.

"Once Rory's liver was out, we had the liver transported over to the Children's Hospital, it was escorted with one of the surgeons and they successfully transplanted into Harriet that same day."

Dr Hector Vilca Melendez, the consultant transplant surgeon who operated on Harriet, said her dad, Rory was the "real hero"

Handout Surgeon stands in operating theatre smiling, with his arms folded. He is wearing blue theatre scrubs. — Dr Hector Vilca Melendez, the consultant transplant surgeon who operated on Harriet, said her dad, Rory was the "real hero"

Harriet's consultant transplant surgeon, Dr Hector Vilca Melendez, described her as "charismatic", adding the transplant was "the product of incredible team work, all of us trying to get things sorted in the best way possible for this little girl".

He added: "The family was incredibly supportive. That is so important when you do a living donor transplant because imagine the mother, she has to put at risk not only her daughter but also her husband."

Emily and Rory say their daughter is now thriving and happy at home after two months in hospital

Emily is wearing a cream and light brown stripy top. She is sitting on a bench in the garden with her husband Rory and their daughter, Harriet. Harriet has her hair in pigtails. — Emily and Rory say their daughter is now thriving and happy at home after two months in hospital

Emily, 31, said: "I just kept myself busy, I went for a big walk around Birmingham and kept checking in, always waiting in suspense to hear when Rory was out and then when Harriet was out. Harriet wasn't out of theatre until 9 o'clock that evening."

Rory said: "[Recovery] was a lot slower road for her. I seemed to repair quite quickly and she didn't. I'd rather it had been the other way round.

"But she's doing amazingly now. They told us that once she'd got the new liver she'll bounce back and she has, definitely, she's grown and she's putting on weight. You can't put enough food in front of her because she just wants to eat and eat and eat."

Emily said her daughter had "made lots of progress since being home and she's the same Harriet, if not better than before, because she's got a functioning liver".

Rory was taken by Leah to see Harriet four days after the operation. He spent five days in hospital, but Harriet was unable to come home for two months

Family picture Harriet sleeping after her operation. Rory is next to her. — Rory was taken by Leah to see Harriet four days after the operation. He spent five days in hospital, but Harriet was unable to come home for two months

Rory with Harriet at Birmingham Children's Hospital in the days after the transplant

Family picture Rory is wearing a pink top and sitting holding Harriet. — Rory with Harriet at Birmingham Children's Hospital in the days after the transplant

Emily stayed with Harriet for two months at the Children's Hospital during her recovery, when she needed two further surgeries.

But the family is now back together at home.

Harriet's new liver will grow with her and Rory's is already regenerating.

He said: "She was a daddy's girl anyway but there was something special when, after the operation – I felt quite sorry for Emily actually, because Emily had been there looking after her the whole time - and all she wanted was me, she wanted to hold my hand and hold my finger."