East Kilbride family 'hit rock bottom' as 'hero' son needs multi-organ donation

A family from East Kilbride, whose son received a life-saving liver transplant, have 'hit rock bottom' after finding out the tot now needs multiple organ donations.

Zachary Logan Bradford, who has liver and intestinal failure, received a new liver in August 2023 after five unsuccessful matches. During his recovery the two-year-old contracted sepsis which has severely damaged the new liver.

The tot has now returned to the transfer list and is in need of both a liver and bowel donation to survive, reports the Daily Record.

Devastated mum Jade Earaker, dad Rhys, and little brother Reuben are now anxiously waiting for a donor - which must be a baby as Zachary weighs only 9kg.

The 23-year-old mum said: "We are absolutely devastated to be back to what feels like rock bottom again, with an insurmountable hurdle to climb.

"Zachary's liver transplant was a success but unfortunately he contracted sepsis at a critical moment in his recovery which severely damaged his new liver. He is now being re-listed for a multi-organ transplant.

"Zachary’s new liver absolutely saved his life and we will always be grateful to the selfless donor who gave him a second chance at life. We simply wouldn’t have Zachary with us today if it wasn’t for them.

"But now we are relying on a second donor - and this time a much much smaller one.

“With any transplant you are faced with so many emotions but as soon as children are thrown into the mix, and being dependent on small donors, it only heightens those feelings of guilt, fear and dread.

"It breaks my heart to be in this position yet again.”

The two-year-old was born prematurely at just 2lbs 13oz with his bowel growing outside his body after Jade Earaker was rushed in for emergency surgery at 28 weeks pregnant in 2021.

The bowel perforation was performed by medics in the womb and they were forced remove most of his gut, which has meant Zachary needs to be fed through an IV.

In January 2022 the tot was diagnosed with liver and intestinal failure as a result of the long-term IV feeds, and has already underwent more than 30 operations.

He was placed on the double transplant list for a new bowel and liver.

Jade explained: “At this point we were absolutely over the moon that he finally received the lifesaving gift he so desperately needed.

"However despite the surgery being a success, Zachary unfortunately contracted sepsis at a critical moment in his recovery which severely damaged his new liver.

“We are now only 6 months post-transplant, and Zachary is already in the process of being re-listed for a multi-organ transplant that he now requires to survive.

"Unfortunately, with the cruel nature of bowel transplants, the option of an adult donor is unavailable, and Zachary will need a paediatric donor."

Zachary was rushed in for a liver transplant in August of last year with medics given no option but to use an adult liver, after five unsuccessful matches. The operation saved his life.

Jade said: "We were absolutely over the moon that he finally received the lifesaving gift he so desperately needed.

"At the time the only viable option was to use a liver from an adult donor so he could survive acute liver failure.

"He had become too unwell to wait for the size match donor organ that he needed for the bowel transplant."

The loving mum issued a plea to parents reading their son's story to have a conversation about organ donation.

She said: "It’s really important for families to know where each other stand on the subject of organ donation so decisions are known if, god forbid, you’re ever in the position to be asked to donate.

“As a parent of one of the 260+ kids in the UK currently awaiting transplant, we hope by sharing Zachary’s story, that you, or someone you know, could save the lives of one of these beautiful children.”

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