By Esther Lauaki
Ibrahim has spent more than half of his first three years of life in hospital.
The Truganina three-year-old was diagnosed with biliary atresia at 13 weeks. It’s a disease of the liver and bile ducts found in infants.
He now lives a happy and normal life thanks to a life-changing liver transplant he received just before he was two.
Mum Imrana Raja said Ibrahim had a rough start to life.
“He was born at 36 weeks and was quite a large baby at 3.8 kilograms,” Ms Raja said.
“He was monitored in the special care unit for the first week with low blood sugar and jaundice and his tummy was a bit larger than normal.
“We eventually were discharged but we had to go back a few times because Ibrahim was still getting fevers.”
Ms Raja said doctors confirmed the diagnosis after a liver biopsy. About eight months – and a number of preliminary procedures – later, Ibrahim received the transplant.
She said while her boisterous toddler is getting better he is not out of the woods yet.
“We were told before the procedure was done that this procedure fails on 70 per cent of kids – that’s what happened initially with Ibrahim.
“He was put back on the liver transplant waiting list not long after his surgery.”
New figures, released for DonateLife Week which winds up on August 4, show Werribee and Point Cook recorded 756 new organ donor registrations in 2018 – just short of state-topping Cranbourne’s 769.
Another 524 adults from Hoppers Crossing, Truganina and Tarneit joined the register last year.
DonateLife Victoria state medical director Rohit D’Costa said it was important for everyone to make their decision to donate or not to donate known.
“Registering your decision about organ and tissue donation – and talking to your family – is important as it leaves no doubt about your wishes,” Dr D’Costa said.
By the end of June this year, 219 lives had been saved in Victoria thanks to organ donation.
Register to become an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au
