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Jul 18, 2007 9:56 pm US/Eastern
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Unusual Transplant Changes Two Lives At Children's
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Two transplant patients met for the first time since an unusual surgery saved both of their lives.
Johnathan Devantier, from St. Louis, Missouri, almost died as a newborn because of a condition called Maple Syrup Urine Disease.
But now he's made it possible for 24-year-old Ali Al-garni of Saudi Arabia to see his newborn baby girl thanks to a domino transplant – only the second one ever at Children's Hospital.
A deceased donor gave a liver to Johnathan. Johnathan then gave his old liver to Ali.
Because of his illness, nowhere in Johnathan's body is he able to make certain proteins or enzymes that are needed to process certain nutrients. He needed a new liver to make these necessary enzymes.
Ali was born with a liver disease that caused his liver to fail. He doesn't have the enzyme problem. In fact, other parts of his body will make the necessary enzymes. That's how he's able to receive the enzyme-challenged liver from Johnathan.
With his new liver, Johnathan can now eat like any other 9-year-old.
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