At just two weeks old, Banner became the youngest liver transplant recipient in California’s recorded history. Born with a rare form of liver disease, he needed intervention as soon as possible to survive.
With his need so urgent, Banner was placed high on the waiting list for a transplant. Remarkably, a liver became available just over a day later. However, it was from an adult, and most pediatric hospitals didn’t have the additional expertise needed to trim the organ down to newborn size.
But Dr. Kambiz Etesami at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) rose to the challenge, even driving to San Diego to personally prepare the liver section. Also, on top of the size issue, doctors weren’t completely sure of Banner’s diagnosis, making the transplant a calculated risk.
“The family was on board, so we decided to take a chance and do the transplant, not knowing 100% if the diagnosis would hold,” Dr. Etesami says. Sixteen hours later, the surgical team emerged after a successful operation, and Banner’s liver began working right away.
Since coming home in early May, Banner has thrived beyond the most critical first three months without any signs of organ rejection. He’s now healthy and normal, crying, eating and developing like other babies his age. After intubation had kept him silent for two months, Banner’s every sound is precious to his parents, Laina and Kevin.
“We’ll never not be thankful for his cry—even though it’s loud,” Kevin says. “Seeing him healthy and acting like a normal baby is really a gift.”