By Victoria Stone-Meadows
A COUPLE from Devon Meadows are celebrating the newfound life in their granddaughter after she received a miracle liver transplant.
Terry and Elain Saxon are urging everyone to consider organ donation after their granddaughter finally underwent a life-saving liver transplant.
Baby Layla was diagnosed with biliary atresia at just seven weeks old and was given six months to live if she did not receive a new liver.
The awful disease that afflicted Layla is rare and only occurs in infants, causing the liver to malfunction and bile to damage the vital organ.
At six months old, Layla has spent most of her life living at the Royal Children’s Hospital waiting on donor lists for an infant-sized liver.
“Layla would not have survived unless she had that transplant and unfortunately she needed a child-sized donation,” grandfather Terry said.
“We are over the moon our little girl has received this donation but I would encourage people to look at the opportunities of registering themselves as a donor so they can see they will help others.”
Grandmother Elain Saxon also said organ donation had the power to save many people’s lives, although it took a hard truth to realise it.
“It is something that has been bought to our attention, unlike most people who have never been in this situation before,” she said.
“We weren’t fully aware of the impact of the situation and I think you can say that it really has brought it home when we speak to people about the numbers and stats.”
According to the organisation Donate Life, around 1500 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists at any time and one person can improve the life of 10 or more people.
“When you see those sorts of stats and the impact it creates, going into the Royal Children’s is heart-breaking, it’s really something quite thought-provoking,” Mrs Saxon said.
It is through this experience with their granddaughter that Terry and Elain Saxon are asking everyone to consider organ donation for themselves.
“If you are thinking about it, discuss it with the family, discuss it and then be aware that one person can improve the life of 12 people,” Elain said.
“It’s just a wonderful gift and it doesn’t take away or make a big difference – a lot of people aren’t aware of it, they think it’s a lot more gruesome than it is.”
“My understanding is we are brought into the world to help each other and to choose not to is not what we normally do,” Terry said.
