Baby Amy’s op makes history
Parents Patrick O’Sullivan and Mary Moylan arrived last evening with their bundle of joy, liver transplant recipient Amy Rose, to Dublin Airport - where there was a large and emotional family welcome.
The baby’s aunt, Ann Marie O’Sullivan, was glad to give her niece the gift of life after she was found to be a suitable donor for Amy Rose in the “live donor” transplant.
In terms of medical science, the transplant was even more significant in that the donor and recipient’s blood groups did not match.
A quarter of the aunt’s liver was transplanted during an operation at King’s Hospital in London two weeks ago.
Ann Marie and her niece have both made remarkable progress. Prior to the aunt stepping in, no donor could be found for the baby.
In Dublin yesterday, Ann Marie O’Sullivan said: “I had no worries about what I was letting myself in for.
“The staff at King’s Hospital were very reassuring and there were no doubts in our minds of any likely complications.”
The baby’s father, Patrick O’Sullivan, said life had been a nightmare for the family since July as they desperately waited for a donor.
“My sister went over to London for tests and it turned out she was a prime candidate.
“Both Amy Rose and Ann Marie are doing very fine since the transplant.”
Carrying Amy Rose on arrival at the airport, mum Mary Moylan said: “We are confident and hopeful she will now be okay.”
King’s Hospital confirmed that the operation was a first living donor transplant where both parties had different blood groups.
Grandmother Chrissie Moylan said she was overjoyed while aunt Irene O’Sullivan said it was the New Year wish for which everyone had hoped and prayed.
Living donor transplants account for 12% of operations at the top British hospital, which also boasts highly successful survival rate.
Mortality rates remain low at one-in-300 cases - a significant medical feat for the hospital.
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