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*Welcome to the CLDF Media Room* | Press Releases | Archived Press Releases | 2005 January 1 - Transplant Boy Celebrates Anniversary
2005 January 1 - Transplant Boy Celebrates Anniversary
NEWS RELEASE 15 January 2005 Transplant Boy Celebrates Anniversary On 18 January Coby Newman aged 5 of Pinhoe, will celebrate a day his mother thought he might never see, the 5th anniversary of his life saving liver transplant. When Coby was born on 28 December 1999 doctors discovered that he had a hernia, but more was to follow as mum Kerrie explains: “ I took Coby to the hospital at six days old for a blood test in preparation for his hernia operation, when the results came back they showed he had liver failure I was devastated. At just 10 days old he suffered internal bleeding and was rushed by air ambulance to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. “The time I next saw him at the hospital he had tubes coming out of him and was on a ventilator, the hospital prepared me for the worst and said he might not make it through the next 24 hours. I honestly thought that my baby was going to die.” Coby survived the next 24 hours and was placed on the top of both the European and UK transplant list. On 18 January 2000 Coby underwent a 13-hour operation to save his life. Throughout this time Kerrie has been supported by the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), a unique national charity that helps fight liver disease in children and young people. Kerrie said: “The Foundation have been fantastic, when Coby was first taken to Birmingham I found all the medical jargon used by doctors very confusing, but the Foundation provided me with lots of literature that helped explain what was happening to Coby in layman’s terms. Sue Davis the family support officer provided me with the emotional support I needed through what was a very difficult time. Since Coby’s transplant the Foundation have still been a great support and anytime I have been worried I have been able to look at the website or call them. It’s a great comfort just knowing that the Foundation is there if I need them, such as when Coby has had to go for biopsies or has shown signs of rejection.” Catherine Arkley chief executive of the Foundation said: “I’m delighted to hear that Coby is doing well. The Newman family are well known to us and we are always pleased to hear how Coby is doing. This year the Foundation is celebrating its silver jubilee; in the past 25 years the Foundation has sponsored key research to great effect but at least two children are still diagnosed every day with a liver disease, and that these diseases are serious and life threatening. It is a common misconception that transplantation is a cure for children like Coby, it isn’t. It is a treatment and the patient faces a lifetime of taking potent anti-rejection drugs. This is one of the reasons why it is so important that the Foundation continues to receive support so that we can continue to fund vital research into why children get liver disease.” Coby is currently thriving and with regards to his future mum Kerrie concludes: “At the moment Coby is like any other five-year-old who enjoys going to school, riding his bike and playing with his brother, Bailey, 3 and sister Jaimee, 2 in the future. My main hopes for Coby’s future are that he remains healthy and happy.” For more information about the work of the Foundation or childhood liver disease call 0121 212 3839, e-mail info@childliverdisease.org or visit www.childliverdisease.org ENDS For more information about this story please call Rebecca O’Connor on 0121 212 6012 or e-mail rebeccaoc@childliverdisease.org
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