Liver disease toddler fights for his life

Ethan Moore, whose colour is due to liver failure, with father Stuart, brother Kane and mother Sarah Rabbidge. Picture / Martin Sykes

The father of a seriously ill boy will find out today if part of his own liver can be used to try to save his son's life.

An infection has left 18-month-old Ethan Moore of Otago battling to stay alive in the Starship in Auckland.

He needs an urgent liver transplant, although his deteriorating health may also have put that in jeopardy.

The family have flown to and from Auckland for the past few months as doctors and specialists have tried to help the toddler.

"Things just haven't gone our way lately," said Ethan's father, Stuart Moore. "It seems Ethan has always been a step behind."

Mr Moore has completed donor tests to find out if his liver is compatible. He expects the results today but any hopes of a transplant are on hold until the infection clears.

Ethan's plight prompted a massive fundraising effort in the tiny West Otago town of Heriot, and friends have tried to help the family cope with the expense of living in Auckland. Ethan's mother, Sarah Rabbidge, said the support had been overwhelming.

Ethan was healthy when born but suddenly became jaundiced when he was 12 weeks old.

Tests at Dunedin Hospital revealed an enlarged liver. Further tests at the Starship came up blank, so his condition was to be monitored every three months with visits to paediatricians.

It was not until biopsy samples were sent to England that his illness was diagnosed.

Ethan has progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type two, an inherited disease caused by a defective gene carried by both parents, giving a 25 per cent chance of passing it on. A liver transplant is the only cure.

Ethan's older brother, Kane, 4, does not have the condition.

Ms Rabbidge said Ethan's condition had deteriorated in recent days and he was now listed as "very serious".

She said the family were staying close to Ethan. "Kane needs to see his little brother and we all need to have some time together."

Doctors have told Ethan's parents that his liver has deteriorated to the last stages of liver failure.

"We can't wait too long or Ethan will die. It's that bad," Ms Rabbidge said. "It's up to Ethan now and how he responds."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES