Boy, 2, Battling Rejection Following Liver Transplant Surgery
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A little boy who had a liver transplant recently is battling a rare form of rejection.
Lucas Goeller has been at Children's Hospital since his liver transplant on July 1.
KDKA's Lisa Washington received a message from his mother on Monday. Jess Goeller says Lucas's team of doctors are trying to figure out a plan to save his liver.
According to the Save Lucas Facebook page, the 2-year-old has a rare form of rejection that attacks vessels. That rejection is what damaged the main artery to Lucas's liver, and the artery is considered lost.
Lucas's mom shared pictures of the toddler lying in bed with his dad.
The post reads: "My daddy lays in bed with me to help comfort me...today was a rough day... daddy says to keep the faith because God has brought us this far."
His doctor, Dr. George Mazariegos, the chief of Pediatric Transplantation at Children's Hospital, reports that Lucas is in stable condition. He is being treated for rejection and is responding to therapy.
It's been a long road for little Lucas.
The tiny toddler with end-stage liver disease spent nearly a year and a half on the waiting list for a liver.
He's undergone two major surgeries, been on a ventilator twice, and then, thanks to Olivia, a 4-year-old from Nebraska who died of a terminal brain disease, Lucas received a liver.
Olivia's mother made the decision to donate her daughter's organs.
As he's being treated for the rejection, Lucas's family remains hopeful. His mother also posted a prayer online. They're asking everyone to pray for Lucas and other children who are suffering.
She writes: "We will fall too, and get our bumps and bruises, we just have to keep chugging along."
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