A LITTLE more than two months after a Nelson Mandela Bay mother made the ultimate sacrifice by donating a portion of her liver to her young daughter suffering from a life-threatening illness, the 11-year-old is now doing better than ever, even with complications immediately after the surgery.
After receiving her liver transplant on February 3 this year, Cassidy Joseph wasn’t doing too well and due to certain complications, she was placed on a ventilator for a month.
She also spent a total of 57 days in hospital.
Cassidy’s mother, Chantelle Joseph, said that things were touch and go with her daughter’s transplant and with the situation being so tough, they were praying for a breakthrough.
The surgery was scheduled to take place on December 14 last year, but was moved to February due to unforeseen circumstances, another setback that the family had to face.
“Cassidy is now doing great. She walks slower than usual as her body is still recovering but the operation was successful despite the complications and her new liver is functioning well. She also won’t need any follow-up operations.
“The doctors informed us that we have to stay in Johannesburg for three months for frequent follow-up tests, so we are not allowed to go home as yet,” Joseph said.
Cassidy, a Grade 4 learner at Diaz Primary School in Algoa Park, was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a liver disease commonly found in infants, when she was only four months old.
Joseph explained that Cassidy had developed jaundice at four-and-a-half months and her stomach was bigger than usual. Later on, her stool became a pale white colour and that was when they knew that something was wrong.
“I was informed that she would not live beyond the age of two years and here we are.
“God proved to us that only he has the final say and His Grace has carried Cassidy this far.
She added that Cassidy had been admitted to hospital on numerous occasions, as she was prone to having a build-up of fluid in her abdomen, leading to a distended stomach.
However, since the surgery, Cassidy cannot stop rubbing over her now flat belly excitedly with a huge smile and telling everyone who would listen that she now has a new liver.
“She would browse through my phone and look at the pictures and be amazed as to how sick she really was. She will now also attend school again but the therapist advised that a remedial school would be beneficial.”
Joseph herself is doing well and during her donor surgery, a portion of the left lobe of her liver was removed and her gallbladder as well.
“I was admitted for about a week after donating a part of my liver to Cassidy. There are not really complications as a donor but I am in pain now and then.
“If I ever doubted the miracle hand of God, I have living proof right next to me. I’m in awe at how our lives have changed after 11 years of praying for a breakthrough,” Joseph said.
“We are here as more than conquerers through Christ. I also believe that this was God’s perfect timing.”
