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2006 January 12 - Liver disease teen celebrates 1st anniversary of life-saving liver transplant

Teenager Dominic O’Keeffe is looking forward to an extra special New Year as he celebrates the first anniversary of his life-saving liver transplant.

Dominic (16) from Girton Walk, Darlington went to the doctors in January 2004 after he developed sores on his legs and the whites of his eyes turned yellow.  Further investigations at Darlington Memorial Hospital showed that Dominic had hepatitis; inflammation of the liver.

Dominic’s condition quickly deteriorated and in March 2004 he was transferred to St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, one of only three specialist paediatric liver units in the UK.  Here he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a liver disease in which the bile ducts inside and outside the liver become inflamed and scarred. As the scarring increases, the ducts become blocked and bile builds up in the liver causing cell damage which can ultimately lead to acute liver failure.

Dominic was treated with steroids, the side affects of which were weight and hair loss and depression. In December 2004, when his condition had failed to improve, Dominic was put on the waiting list for a life-saving liver transplant.

Dominic underwent the operation on 31st January 2005 after an agonising wait for a donor liver.  Although Dominic had some initial complications when the artery feeding the liver was not functioning properly, the transplant was a success and Dominic has since gone from strength to strength.  He will however require regular monitoring and medication for the rest of his life to prevent him rejecting his new liver. 

Mum Jenny says, “The transplant has made such a difference to Dominic’s standard of life, he is my miracle man now. Looking back it is hard to believe what he has been through over the past two years.  It was an extremely difficult and stressful time, from first not knowing what was wrong with him, to then finding out he was serious ill, through to waiting for a donor liver.  We have supported each other through all of this and perhaps, I like to think, our life has been enriched in some ways by such an experience.”

Dominic, who is studying for his A’ Level’s at Queen Elizabeth 6th Form College and sings tenor at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington says, “A fantastic milestone for everyone was when I was able to walk mum down the aisle when she married my step-father Mike in October 2005.  It has also been great to do normal things again such as going out with my friends.”

The family are now keen to raise awareness of childhood liver disease and Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), the charity which offered vital emotional support throughout their experience. 

Jenny adds, “We know first hand what a difference CLDF makes to families of children with liver disease.   We knew little about liver disease before Dominic’s illness and CLDF were a vital lifeline, providing information and support at what was such a devastating time.”

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation said: "We are delighted that Dominic is doing so well a year on from his transplant.  Most people don't realise that two children a day are diagnosed with a liver disease in this country - that's greater than the incidence of childhood leukaemia. Many of these diseases are life threatening, but all mean a lifetime of care. Quite simply we have no idea why many of the liver diseases happen.  Until we do, young people like Dominic will continue to become ill. Each year we need to raise more money to fund new research projects, educate more healthcare professionals and support more families.” 

For further information on the work of the Foundation, please visit www.childliverdisease.org or call 0121 212 3839 for a fundraising and information pack.

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For further information on this story please contact Rachel Markham,
Children’s Liver Disease Foundation on 0121 212 6012, e-mail: communications@childliverdisease.org

Note to editors:

The Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is a unique national charity that fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the general public. Formed in 1980, it provides professional, emotional support to families affected and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.