Harvey's Blog

Some of the staff at Westmead Hospital bidding farewell to Harvey being discharged after 104 days in hospital

Super hero Charlie Munns was a recipient of a graft liver in 2008 from Charlie's mum, Julie-Ann. Julie-Ann has a different blood group to Charlie, so her liver had been deemed incompatible. However, due the lack of availability of cadarevic donors at that time, there was no option except to use a graft of Julie-Ann's liver. Charlie has had to fought through some tough times and proved to be strong to get through most of the complications this type of matching creates. Today, on the face of it , Charlie is looking good, although the compatibility complications still arise.

Cordelia Whatman from Canberra was diagnosed with biliary artesia at 10 weeks. In July 2007, she had an unsuccessful Kasai procedure. It worked for a while, but gradually got worse. Cordelia's has a big sister, Octavia, who is 2 1/2 years older.

 Cordelia had to wait more than a year on the liver transplant waiting list. By mid 2008, Cordelias mum, Rachel, commenced a series of tests to determine compatibility of her liver for a possible live donation as Cordelia's health continued to deteriorate. Fortunately a few weeks later, Cordelia recieved the gift of life and is now doing well.

Stephania has been diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, the same disease as Harvey. Stephania had also undergone the Kasia procedure. We were fortunate to meet Stephania, her mum, Val and Dad, Chris at Randwick hospital during Harvey's first stay of antibiotic treatment for ascending colingitus. Like Harvey, Stephania has now been transferred to Westmead hospital, Sydney for managment of her condition and is now on the transplant list awaiting for a compatible cadaveric donor liver.