An East Kilbride family with a desperately ill baby is clinging to hope that he can receive a life-changing liver transplant.
Glasgow doctors battled to save little Zachary Logan Bradford when he was born 28 weeks early with serious health problems.
Mum Jade and dad Rhys say their hearts have been shattered by disappointment after three potential donors were rejected because they were too big for their son's tiny little boy.
Zachary was born on October 4, 2021, weighing just 2lbs 13oz when he was born by emergency C-section, due to having an abdominal wall defect named gastroschisis.
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The condition meant Zachary's bowel was growing outside his body and mum Jade had to deliver him early as it was perforating, and he had to be taken for immediate surgery following his birth.
The family was told that most of his bowel was too damaged and would need to be removed.
Jade said: “Zachary became the youngest ever survivor of said surgery which wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing surgical team and superhero-level resilience from our boy."
Zachary spent more than three months in the Royal Hospital for Children's neonatal unit as he underwent five more major surgeries and other procedures, including the formation of his ileostomy (stoma), gastrostomy (peg), insertion of a central line, PDA Ligation (heart surgery) and his step procedure to lengthen his bowel.
He also battled sepsis twice and developed a DVT on his left leg.
At the beginning of 2022, Zachary was diagnosed with intestinal and liver failure, and it was confirmed he would require a double transplant.
Jade continued: “He was officially diagnosed with both intestinal failure and liver failure back in early 2021. The liver failure is a result of the inability to wean off TPN (damage of IV feeds long term). It was agreed within the gastro team they would need specialist input and explore wider options.
"This was the start of our next battle, transplant.
"July of 22 we were transferred down to Kings College Hospital London for a double transplant assessment. This was single handily the toughest week we had been through so far in our journey. We were told everything about the ins and outs of transplants; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
"There was no denying what we were soon to face was terrifying. We were explained the waiting process for this could potentially be lengthy as a small bowel transplant was not as flexible as other organs in the sense the donor must be a size-efficient match and there was no option for living donation.
"This absolutely broke our hearts because Zachary is only 6kg therefore his donor would need to be a baby. Small bowel transplants are uncommon due to the science surrounding them being relatively new. Due to this, average life expectancy for successful transplants only ranges between 5 and 10 years."
Zachary's assessment included blood tests, scans, biopsies, and scopes and it was concluded he should be put on the double transplant list. However, Zachary's liver function has deteriorated more rapidly than expected, and it was agreed he would be moved to the liver-only list to increase his chances of receiving the organ.
Jade said: "Since going live on the list, Zachary’s liver has deteriorated much quicker than we initially thought it would. His bilirubin levels have crept up and he has shown further signs of liver failure
"Late November of 2022, it was agreed Zachary would need to be taken off the double transplant list and put onto the liver only list. This was because there is a higher chance of receiving a liver as there is more scope for matches; any size liver (in theory) could be cut down to size to fit a recipient.
"There are usually two tiers on the transplant lists; top priority (patients acutely unwell and unlikely to last a few days) and generic list (patients who could wait six to nine months). In Zachary’s case an exception was made where he fit in the middle, this meant all livers of his blood group would get offered to him before anyone else unless there was a patient more acutely unwell of his blood group.
"We were told there had been cases where a match could come up within hours of going live on this list, but there are also those who deteriorate and unfortunately don’t live long enough for a match to come up. We explored the possibility of a living donor for Zachary but due to his small size it isn’t possible.
"Zachary has had three unsuccessful potential liver matches. It has absolutely shattered our hearts to find all three donors were too big for him, but we still have to cling onto all hope the perfect one will come up soon."
Jade Rhys now wants to raise awareness of National Organ Donor Day today. They said: "I cannot praise the staff enough for all the love and support we received during our time on the unit, it really does feel like a second home."
For more information on organ donation, visit here and to register as a donor, click here.
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