A father donated a fifth of his liver to save the life of his 22-month-old daughter, despite doctors not knowing if he was a suitable donor until they opened him up on the operating table.
Father's Selfless Act
Rory Griffiths, 34, a pig farmer from Whitchurch, Shropshire, did not hesitate when he learned he could potentially donate part of his liver to his daughter Harriet, who was in urgent need of a transplant. The procedure took place at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where surgeons removed a portion of Rory's liver roughly the size and weight of a Coke can – 311 grams.
It was only when surgeons opened Rory up that they could confirm he was a match. At the same time, Harriet was in an operating theatre two miles away at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Rory's organ was rushed over, and surgeons spent six hours performing the delicate transplant surgery.
Successful Surgeries and Recovery
Both surgeries were successful. Four days later, Rory visited Harriet in hospital. He said: “I’d normalised the fact that ‘doesn’t every dad donate part of their organ to their child?’ When I got there and saw her, I was so glad to see her. She was daddy’s girl anyway, but now I feel I have an even stronger bond with her.”
Rory was discharged after six days and his liver fully regenerated within 12 weeks. He added: “If I could do it again for another person to save their life, I would. When I see her running about it’s brilliant because it feels that problem is behind us now.”
Mother's Relief
Harriet's mother Emily, 31, described the moment she learned the transplant could proceed: “Even though Rory had undergone all the tests, they didn’t know for sure that the transplant could take place until they had opened him up and checked his liver. At that point the surgeons called their counterparts operating on Harriet to give them the go ahead. It was at that moment I shed a tear of relief – that Harriet was going to get the liver transplant she so badly needed.”
Harriet had been diagnosed at eight weeks old with Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency, a genetic condition. Despite initial treatment, she developed chronic liver disease and needed a transplant by the time she was 12 months old. Emily said: “Whilst discussing the deceased donor process with the medics, we were told about the live liver transplant programme at the QEHB and BCH and we both didn’t hesitate in putting ourselves forward. Rory was a match and the decision was made for us about who it would be.”
Surgeon's Perspective
Surgeon Hector Vilca-Melendez commented: “I’m very pleased that we have been able to re-establish the living donor liver transplant programme at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, providing another life-saving transplant option for our patients. This achievement was only possible through the close collaboration with the adult liver transplant centre at the QEHB, where the donor operation was performed, and through the dedication and expertise of the multidisciplinary transplant team at BCH. We are now looking forward to seeing Harriet grow up and enjoy as normal a childhood as possible, thanks to the extraordinary gift of part of her father’s liver.”
