Dad can donate liver to sick son

A West Otago father has been cleared to give part of his liver to his seriously ill son, but doctors need the toddler's condition to improve before they consider performing the life-saving transplant.

Eighteen-month-old Ethan Moore is battling for his life in the Starship.

Born with a genetic liver condition, he needs the operation before his own infected liver stops functioning.

Doctors yesterday told his father, Stuart Moore, that his liver was compatible with Ethan's and could be used in a transplant, but they warned that the toddler's condition needed to lift before they could go ahead with the procedure.

"They [the doctors] said there was no way they could do the transplant while Ethan is in this condition. He needs to fight off these infections. He gets rid of one and another comes along," Mr Moore said.

Ethan had been taken to the intensive care unit where he would receive constant one-on-one care. His condition had not dramatically changed but regular bleeding on his side meant nurses were regularly tending to him. He was being treated with three different antibiotics.

"He's a bit sore but other than that, he seems fine."

Once Ethan's condition improved enough for the transplant, things would happen quickly, Mr Moore said. "There will be next to no notice, really."

In the operation, doctors would take a quarter of Mr Moore's liver and transplant it into Ethan's body. The toddler's diseased liver would be removed and his new liver would continue to develop. Mr Moore's liver would replace itself over six to eight weeks and he would not be affected in any other way.

Ethan would be on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life.

A photograph and story featuring Ethan and his family appeared in the Herald yesterday and coverage prompted several calls from around the country. One man even offered to be tested to see if his liver could be used in the transplant.

One Otago organisation yesterday contacted the Otago Daily Times to confirm it had agreed to make a substantial donation which would be announced soon.

Mr Moore said the family were extremely grateful for the financial donations and "quite overwhelmed".

"Things just seem to have snowballed more than we thought ... We can't thank people enough."

The Ethan Moore Liver Transplant Fund yesterday stood at $20,000. Trustee Elaine Fletcher said the money would be used to help the family in any way.

Donations can be made to the Westpac branch in Gore, by contacting Mrs Fletcher and fellow trustee Jane Roulston or Jenny Ogilvie at the Heriot Hotel in West Otago.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES