Written on 6:02 AM by www.StreamingPraiseRadio.com
Toronto SUN
News Canada
Selfless donor saves ill baby
By JENNY YUEN, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 26th November 2008, 3:37am
Story
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Radio host Clairmont Humphrey talks about his decision to give away part of his liver to save a little girl.
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MISSISSAUGA -- Baby Jaida Marae Fairman received the best Christmas present this year -- a second chance at life.
The one-year-old was diagnosed last December with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease in which the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent. She was only 11 weeks old when the news came that she needed a liver transplant.
It was a stranger who answered the call.
"When God speaks to your heart, you've got to operate," donor Clairmont Humphrey said yesterday.
"People thought I was a bit crazy because I didn't even know the child. But that doesn't matter. For me, it's just doing what God would call anyone out to do."
Humphrey, 46, a father of four and the host of the gospel Internet radio station Streaming Praise Radio, said he first met Jaida last summer when she was at the Hospital for Sick Children. The baby was related to his ex-wife.
"When I visited her, she was actually sicker than I thought, and without a liver transplant, there's no chance of life," Humphrey said.
Four people, including Jaida's father and grandfather, previously tried donating a piece of their liver to the tot, but there wasn't a compatible match.
The operation took about 41/2 hours last Tuesday, when surgeons removed a piece of Humphrey's liver.
What remains is a 38-cm hockey stick-shaped "war scar" stretching from his stomach to his right hip and a numbness of his muscles in that area.
Leading up to the procedure, Humphrey, a hemo technician assistant at Toronto General Hospital, said he wasn't scared.
"The doctor explained that one of the things that could happen is death and I still didn't fear it," he said. "If me doing this can give somebody life, that's an awesome experience."
Jaida's mom, Melissa Fairman, declined to speak to media yesterday because "her daughter is still in critical condition," Sick Kids spokesman Evelyne Jhung said.
It will take between six to 12 weeks for both Jaida and Humphrey to recover.
"She still has some setbacks here and there, but she's doing well," Humphrey said. "She seems to have more energy than I do. It tells you she's more resilient than I am."
Today, Humphrey, Jaida's family and friends will march from Queen's Park to Sick Kids' hospital to visit the baby girl and to provide hope for families anxiously waiting for organ and tissue transplants -- an estimated 2,000 in Ontario alone.
"Jaida's going to get her Christmas present -- it's called life," Humphrey said. "And I kept my word."
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FACTS OF LIFE
- A liver transplant is an operation that replaces a diseased liver with either a whole or portion of a healthy, donated liver.
- Every other day, a Canadian dies while waiting for an organ transplant. More than 2,000 Ontarians are registered as waiting for a transplant -- 800 to 900 of those need a liver.
- One cadaver can save up to eight people's lives and restore the tissues of 30 others. A live donor can give a liver, kidney or lung, and can save one life.
- Number of liver transplants in Canada each year: More than 300.
- Diseases treated by liver transplants: Chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and alcoholic cirrhosis. In children, biliary atresia.
- Success rate for liver transplant: 87% of adult patients and 93% of children.
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Written on 5:21 PM by www.StreamingPraiseRadio.com
In the fall of 2006, My Mom was acting weird and was really confused, So my Dad took her to the hospital, Where they discovered her potassium level was dangerously low. The hospital ended up getting her levels back up.
In the being of February, My Mom went back to the Doctors to have some more test done, At that time,The Doctors said,"There's something not right about your Blood the tests your Liver".
Months went by before her case was transferred to Kingston General Hospital, during this time, My Moms condition seemed to be getting worst, She seemed more tired, She had bloating in the Stomach & Confusion.
In Nov of 2007, My Mom ended back up in Kingston in a Coma State from the Toxin bypassing her liver and going to her brain. I remember that day in early Dec/07 when my Dad called me, Saying he didn't think she was going to make it.
Kingston ended up getting her condition under control. A few weeks later, She was moved from ICU to a step down unit, She was aware of her surroundings. The Hospital ended up doing a lot of test on my Mom, Including a Liver Biopsy.
The Biopsy ended up showing she had Cirrhosis of the Liver caused by a virus & that she would require a Liver transplant, At that time, I stood right up and said, I want to be tested so I can donate half my Liver to my Mom.
In May/08 , My Moms case ended up being transferred to Toronto General Hospital.
My Mom & Dad have been going to Toronto once to Twice a Month for meetings & tests,
In Sept/08, Toronto General Hospital ended up giving my Mom & Dad a pager and informed them, That my Mom is now on the waiting list from a Cadavric Donor or Deceased Donor and the waiting time frame could be 2-3 years.
At that time, TGH called me to start my testing to be a Living Liver Donor.
On Sept 4/08, I was at TGH for the whole day going through number of tests & blood work.
On Sept 15th, The Coordinator called me from the Donor Team at TGH; She informed me that most of my test showed up great except I had a Moderate to severe Fatty Inflammation in my Liver and I would require to lose a little weight, I asked her how much does she think, She replied about 20-25 LBS, And that we will set up another date for an ultrasound in about 6 weeks.
So I stepped on the scale, My weight was 202 LBS.
From that day on, I started a Diet, went for walks. 2 days later, Toronto called and said, I have another Ultrasound on Oct 21st. That only 5 weeks away, So I better work hard,
On Oct 21st, I showed up to my ultrasound weighing 180 LBS, Wow! That Was a 22 LBS weight loss,
When I had my ultrasound, I was suppose to bring the report up to Cailin for the results, She looked at the report and said, The ultrasound shows a great improvement, So we are going to move forward with the testing and schedule a Biopsy.
The Biopsy was schedule for Nov 10th/08, I showed up at the Hospital weighing 177 LBS now, That 25 LBS since my Diet.
At 10:30am, Nov 10th . The Biopsy was completed, I had to stay there in bed for 4-5 Hours.
At 3:00pm. I was getting my coat on to leave, when Cailin came into the room with a paper in her hand, She said to me, " Congratulation, Your Liver Biopsy showed less then 10% Fat,The required Fat in the Liver for a Transplant.
So at that time they Scheduled a Surgery date for Monday, Nov 24/08.
But now things could get postponed, My Mom is in Kingston Hospital fighting 3 different kinds of Infections, 1 of them is a Cat Bite from there house Pet.
So I'm praying everyday for a speedy recovery for my Mom, So we can move forward, So I can Give my Mom the Gift of Life, and give my Mom Carol a 2nd chance at Life.
I would also like to thank my Beautiful Wife Amanda for all her love & support, Because deep down I don't think I could have did all this without her beside my side, I Love YOU AMANDA & Thank-You again for everything.
Regards,
Ted Smith
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Written on 10:15 AM by www.StreamingPraiseRadio.com
Well Hello Everyone,
It is I again, bringing you up to date, with the Jaida Story http://streamingpraise.blogspot.com/2008/10/jaidas-story.html and my donation of a potion of my Liver to save her life. I am requesting your prayers.
As you know, donation of any organ is not always that simple, for some it does not work but for most it does. This Liver transplant has been done many times in Toronto General Hospital and has been successful. However, we know that, we wrestle not against flesh and blood and there is a real Devil out there who would like nothing less than, to mess plans up. So, I am asking you to pray that the operation will go smoothly and both Jaida and myself will be well. Pray that Jaidas little body will not reject the Liver she will be getting from me and that it will go well in the operating rooms.
Now, THE BIG DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 18th 2008, starting at 8AM in the morning.
I thank you all for your prayers and may God continue to bless you all.
Your Brother and Friend In Christ
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