Cambridgeshire mum saves her toddler's life through liver transplant

Published2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, PA MediaBy Shivani Chaudhari and Storm NewtonBBC News and PA MediaA mum has saved her 21-month-old son’s life by donating part of her liver.Teddy Nicholls inherited a rare condition called neonatal hemochromatosis which can cause fatal liver failure in newborns without treatment. The donation from his mother Emma Nicholls, carried out at King’s College Hospital in London, is the second life-saving transplant Teddy has undergone. He received a transplant at 10 weeks from a deceased donor in 2022.In the most recent operation, surgeons used a technique known as a hitch-vein monosegment liver transplant.Epping boy inspires transplant campaign for 230 hospital dollsTeenage transplant patient clapped out of Cambridge hospitalTeen heart-lung transplant a UK first, says Royal Papworth HospitalThe procedure involved reducing the size of donated liver tissue to suit a baby’s body.The only alternative would be to wait for a deceased donor liver from another small baby, which the hospital said was “rare”.Image source, PA MediaMrs Nicholls was unable to donate when her son was 10 weeks old because she had only recently given birth.”I knew I wanted to do everything possible to help my son,” Mrs Nicholls said. “As a family we were so thankful to the donor and their family who saved Teddy’s life with his first organ transplant that I had no doubts about stepping in when needed.”Three weeks after the procedure, Teddy returned home to Cambridgeshire to enjoy Christmas with Mrs Nicholls, his father Greg and five-year-old brother Theo.”I am incredibly grateful to the whole hospital team from the theatres to the wards where we stayed; they’ve been fantastic looking after Teddy and I every step of the way,” Mrs Nicholls said.”Being home and reunited as a family in time for Christmas makes us feel so lucky and grateful to everyone at King’s College Hospital.”Dr Hector Vilca Melendez, consultant transplant surgeon at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’m delighted to see Teddy and Emma doing so well.”Thanks to his mother’s donation, Teddy has the opportunity to develop as would be normal for any child.”Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830More on this storyBoy needing transplant inspires dolls campaignPublished4 December’It was find a bone marrow donor match or die’Published26 SeptemberTeen heart-lung transplant a UK first, says hospitalPublished1 JuneRelated Internet LinksKing’s College Hospital NHS Foundation TrustThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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