Partial liver graft from mother may save Ieva

A BABY girl who needs a liver transplant if she is to see her first birthday is to get a partial liver graft from her mother next month.

Nine-month-old Ieva Zukaskaute from Rahoon, Co Galway, has already undergone two unsuccessful operations to correct her condition.

She was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare disease that affects newborns, when she was six weeks old.

Her condition is not inherited, the cause is unknown and treatments are only partially successful.

A complex procedure involving transplanting part of the mother’s liver into the baby’s body is due to be conducted at King’s College Hospital in London on September 13 next.

Her parents, Christina and Andrew Zukaskaute, who have lived in Galway for the past eight years, fear Ieva will die within months without the transplant. Ivea’s godmother, Audrey Cassidy, said the child was a patient at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin.

“Her condition is stable but there is real concern that she could deteriorate at any time,” said Ms Cassidy.

“Christina is donating part of her liver because Ivea has a rare blood group that greatly reduces her chances of getting a matched, unrelated, donor transplantation.

“It is a very serious operation but King’s College Hospital have done over 100 in the last few years and they have been quite successful.”

The child’s mother, who is in her late 20s, works with Ms Cassidy and her mother, Louise Blade, at the Sewing Studio in Galway.

“It would be wonderful if Christina could save her baby. We have been doing all we can to make sure she has the support she needs at this very difficult time,” said Ms Cassidy.

“Christina knows that the only way she can give Ivea the gift of life is by donating part of her liver and she is more than willing to do that.”

About two months ago Ivea was air-lifted with her parents to King’s College Hospital to be assessed and stabilised. The family only returned to Ireland last Tuesday.

Christina described Ivea as a very happy baby.

“She now has two teeth, lovely long hair and is already trying to talk.”

Ms Cassidy said Christina could hardly remember what home life was like because she had spent so much time in hospital with Ivea.

“I can now see a happy ending for Christina and her lovely family and they deserve that,” she said.

The couple, who have an 12-year-old daughter, Laura, have relied on the generosity of the people of Galway to help with travel, accommodation, and other costs.

- There is an account opened for the Baby Ieva Fund at AIB, Lynch’s Castle, in Galway. The account number is 33233063 and the branch number 937096.

Picture: Ieva Zukaskaute with her parents, Andrew and Kristina who is to donate part of her liver in an effort to ensure Ieva reaches her first birthday.