Support Mark’s Liver Transplant Procedure
Donation protected
Mark needs funds for an urgent liver transplant scheduled for 07 October 2021. His mum, Anna, will be his donor. Their combined surgery and hospitalisation is going to cost more than their medical aid will cover. They need your help.
Mark is a fun-filled toddler, highly intelligent and strong-willed (though quite shy). He loves being outdoors in the sunlight and playing at the park. He adores his big sister too, and she dotes on him. Mark has been withdrawn from creche based on his doctor’s advice and is being taken care of during the day by his nanny, Melody, who also adores him. He is well-known and loved at the Liver Unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Mark has biliary atresia. This is a congenital condition characterised by blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Medically speaking, Mark currently presents with cirrhosis, and portal hypertension with oesophageal varices, obstructive sleep apnoea and (on a non-invasive ventilator BiPAP at home at night), and vitamin D deficiency with failure to thrive. In plainer terms, Mark has chronic liver failure with enlarged veins in the oesophagus and a high probability to bleed.
In September 2019, he went through a Kasai Portoenterostomy procedure to correct his congenital atresia. The procedure failed. Now, with chronic liver disease, Mark’s liver transplant will save his life.
Mark’s parents, Anna and Abisola, are postdoctoral researchers in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University. Although Mark was born in Cape Town, South Africa, Anna and Abisola are of Nigerian nationality, and do not have permanent residency in South Africa.
Mark is only eligible for a ‘related living’ liver transplant. In Africa, this procedure is only done at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg. His mum, Anna, has successfully undergone all blood and laboratory work, medical imaging and psychological tests and all necessary medical assessments. Anna and Abisola are aware of the financial, physical, emotional and psychological tasks they will face as a family with the transplant and post-operative care, but, they have to give Mark a fighting chance at the life he deserves.
Mark’s liver transplant will cost an estimated R1,668,492.03 (117,448.15 USD) (excluding immunosuppressant cost). The family’s medical aid will cover all of Mark’s surgery and hospitalisation but not all of Anna, the donor’s. There is a shortfall of R671,986.78 (47,300.00 USD). Your donations will help them overcome this.
A bit about Mark’s medical history, and his current treatment:
Mark was born perfectly healthy at 38 weeks, on June 21, 2019, with an Apgar score of 9 & 10/10 and a birth weight of 3.810kg. At his 10-week vaccination visit at the baby clinic, Mark’s parents and their paediatric nurse noticed something was not quite right. His urine was concentrated, and his abdomen was distended. He has braved many medical procedures and continues to fight for his health. After the Kasai Portoenterostomy on 09 September 2019, his stools unfortunately remained acholic, and his cirrhosis and portal hypertension progressed with the development of recurrent oesophageal varices. Because of the cirrhosis, Mark is now deficient in Vitamin D which resulted in a femur fracture in 2020. Mark has also struggled with repeated upper respiratory infections and upper airway obstruction. He also experiences extreme itching due to severe jaundice.
While waiting for his transplant, Mark’s nutrition is being well looked after although he often needs to go into hospital or have specialised investigations like ultrasound and gastroscopies. Sometimes he experiences complications like gastrointestinal bleeds or infections (such as cholangitis). He is on overnight BiPAP at home to help his apnoea and shows good improvement!
Mark is currently on the following medication: Propranolol 10mg BD PO, Omeprazole 10mg daily PO, Ursodeoxycholic acid 100mg BD PO, Ferrous gluconate 40mg alternate daily PO, Vitamin CO Syrup 5ml daily PO, Vitamin D (calciferol) 50000IU daily PO, Calcitriol 0.5mcg BD PO, Vitamin E 400IU daily PO, Vitamin K 2mg daily PO, Calcium carbonate 500mg TDS PO, Gabapentin 50mg BD PO, Cefuroxime 25mg daily PO, Cetrizine 2.5mg daily PO, Flomist N/S daily, Asthavent MDI PRN.
We thank you for your generosity.
Mark is a fun-filled toddler, highly intelligent and strong-willed (though quite shy). He loves being outdoors in the sunlight and playing at the park. He adores his big sister too, and she dotes on him. Mark has been withdrawn from creche based on his doctor’s advice and is being taken care of during the day by his nanny, Melody, who also adores him. He is well-known and loved at the Liver Unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Mark has biliary atresia. This is a congenital condition characterised by blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Medically speaking, Mark currently presents with cirrhosis, and portal hypertension with oesophageal varices, obstructive sleep apnoea and (on a non-invasive ventilator BiPAP at home at night), and vitamin D deficiency with failure to thrive. In plainer terms, Mark has chronic liver failure with enlarged veins in the oesophagus and a high probability to bleed.
In September 2019, he went through a Kasai Portoenterostomy procedure to correct his congenital atresia. The procedure failed. Now, with chronic liver disease, Mark’s liver transplant will save his life.
Mark’s parents, Anna and Abisola, are postdoctoral researchers in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University. Although Mark was born in Cape Town, South Africa, Anna and Abisola are of Nigerian nationality, and do not have permanent residency in South Africa.
Mark is only eligible for a ‘related living’ liver transplant. In Africa, this procedure is only done at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg. His mum, Anna, has successfully undergone all blood and laboratory work, medical imaging and psychological tests and all necessary medical assessments. Anna and Abisola are aware of the financial, physical, emotional and psychological tasks they will face as a family with the transplant and post-operative care, but, they have to give Mark a fighting chance at the life he deserves.
Mark’s liver transplant will cost an estimated R1,668,492.03 (117,448.15 USD) (excluding immunosuppressant cost). The family’s medical aid will cover all of Mark’s surgery and hospitalisation but not all of Anna, the donor’s. There is a shortfall of R671,986.78 (47,300.00 USD). Your donations will help them overcome this.
A bit about Mark’s medical history, and his current treatment:
Mark was born perfectly healthy at 38 weeks, on June 21, 2019, with an Apgar score of 9 & 10/10 and a birth weight of 3.810kg. At his 10-week vaccination visit at the baby clinic, Mark’s parents and their paediatric nurse noticed something was not quite right. His urine was concentrated, and his abdomen was distended. He has braved many medical procedures and continues to fight for his health. After the Kasai Portoenterostomy on 09 September 2019, his stools unfortunately remained acholic, and his cirrhosis and portal hypertension progressed with the development of recurrent oesophageal varices. Because of the cirrhosis, Mark is now deficient in Vitamin D which resulted in a femur fracture in 2020. Mark has also struggled with repeated upper respiratory infections and upper airway obstruction. He also experiences extreme itching due to severe jaundice.
While waiting for his transplant, Mark’s nutrition is being well looked after although he often needs to go into hospital or have specialised investigations like ultrasound and gastroscopies. Sometimes he experiences complications like gastrointestinal bleeds or infections (such as cholangitis). He is on overnight BiPAP at home to help his apnoea and shows good improvement!
Mark is currently on the following medication: Propranolol 10mg BD PO, Omeprazole 10mg daily PO, Ursodeoxycholic acid 100mg BD PO, Ferrous gluconate 40mg alternate daily PO, Vitamin CO Syrup 5ml daily PO, Vitamin D (calciferol) 50000IU daily PO, Calcitriol 0.5mcg BD PO, Vitamin E 400IU daily PO, Vitamin K 2mg daily PO, Calcium carbonate 500mg TDS PO, Gabapentin 50mg BD PO, Cefuroxime 25mg daily PO, Cetrizine 2.5mg daily PO, Flomist N/S daily, Asthavent MDI PRN.
We thank you for your generosity.
N.B: Mark is my nephew, and his mum is my elder sister.
You may also donate using PayPal (see link below)
You may also donate using PayPal (see link below)
Organizer
Timothy OJO
Organizer
Frisco, TX
