Baby Zac was just weeks old when he was listed for a liver transplant as mum, Arlene, explains.
Our beautiful boy, Zac, entered the world on 16 June 2022, three weeks premature but healthy and perfect in every way.
Just five days later, our joy turned to fear. After we spotted a bruise on his leg and not feeding great, a midwife advised us to take him back to hospital. Within hours of arriving, Zac was rushed to ICU and we were told the words no parent ever expects to hear, his liver was failing, and he was in a critical condition.
We were transferred from Glasgow to Leeds, where the specialist transplant team prepared for the possibility of surgery. Zac was placed on the urgent transplant list, but after days of tests, doctors diagnosed him with HLH (a rare autoimmune disease) Because they suspected it was genetic, Zac was removed from the transplant list. Later, to our relief, it was discovered his HLH was actually caused by an enterovirus, which meant a transplant was possible after all.
At just five weeks old, (and in reality term + two weeks) Zac was once again placed on the urgent list. Two days later, we got the call, a donor had been found. The next morning, our tiny 3.5 kg warrior endured a 12-hour liver transplant operation.
His fight didn’t end there. Zac spent three long months in ICU, slowly regaining his strength and learning to breathe without support.
Today, Zac is three years post-transplant. He is healthy, happy, and recently took part in his very first British Transplant Games, a celebration of life and the incredible gift we were given.
We are now in touch with the family whose beautiful daughter, Hannah, became Zac’s hero. In the midst of unimaginable loss, they made the selfless decision to donate her organs. Their courage and kindness will forever be a part of Zac’s story, and a part of ours.
