Dad’s liver gives baby Stella new life

A courageous 16-month old baby girl in desperate need of a liver transplant is thriving after being given a new lease on life after receiving a portion of her father’s liver.

Little Stella Rose McGear from Colorado Park was diagnosed with a rare disease, biliary atresia, at just 7 weeks. This means no bile (a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder) ducts were formed at birth, and no bile can flow out of the liver into the intestines which causes damage to the liver.

Her parents Adrian McGear, 29, and Judine McGear, 31, fought through all the challenges in their path that almost didn’t allow for their daughter to be alive.

At the time of Stella’s birth, her paediatrician discovered her liver was enlarged as well as noticing signs of jaundice – yellow skin caused by the build-up of bilirubin in the blood.

They checked for her bilirubin count, a test used to find the cause of health conditions, which was rather high, it was also sent for testing. She was diagnosed with biliary atresia after tests were done.

“Our daughter was yellow in her skin colour and her eyes at her six-week check-up. Once she was admitted to hospital we spent all of our time there with her undergoing tests,” Ms McGear said.

Mr McGear said nothing was clear at first. “We weren’t sure what was wrong as the doctors weren’t able to share what was wrong yet. They had given her medication which worked partially and at times it didn’t.”

Stella underwent her first major operation, a Kasai procedure which was three hours long. This procedure was not to fix the liver but to extend the lifespan of the damaged liver.

“The operation was successful but it didn't work as it should as she became more ill, more yellow and her tummy was bigger than usual. The Kasai procedure was not a cure but to buy some time. It was evident that Stella needed a liver transplant as the liver was damaged at this point,” said Ms McGear.

Doctors suggested the transplant come from a relative. Mr McGear was the fitted relative as Stella and Mr McGear’s blood type matched. The donor's remaining liver regrows and returns to its normal size, volume and capacity within a couple of months after the surgery.

“The process of getting the transplant to happen was a challenging one. We went to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and felt despondent at this point as we thought this may not be possible for our daughter,” Ms McGear said.

Mr McGear was required to be in a very healthy state before the process for the transplant could begin. “I needed to live healthily. There were times I would run around the hospital just to get some activity done. At times my thoughts would be low but in those low times I would remember why I was doing this – for my daughter,” said Mr McGear.

Stella’s transplant took place on Thursday April 28 at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg. They had to build Stella up for 43 days before the transplant.

“We went through this test for five months. The doctors asked us how we walked in, every day, with a smile on our faces, knowing that our daughter was in a state. We told them that we prayed and believed in God, that His will for her life will be done.

“We continued to pray throughout this difficult time. We needed her to be strong, we needed to carry positivity in our hearts for Stella,” said Mr McGear.

Stella was in the intensive care unit for 63 days after the transplant. She spent 113 days in hospital with her transplant.

Mr McGear said that having a part of himself in Stella is an ”amazing thing“. ”Stella and I will forever share a bond greater than just father and daughter. There is always a piece of me in her that is physically a part of her, helping her digest, helping her grow. As she grows, part of me in her liver will also grow. If I should pass one day, a part of me will still live in her physically,” he said.

“This time has taught us to become strong in our faith, in our marriage and in raising our daughter. We were in a hopeless situation. We thought we were not going to come back to Cape Town with our daughter. Today, she is running around, crawling, and pooping. We had to hold on to the little hope,” he said.

Johannesburg evangelist, Joshua Wyngaardt from the New Apostle Church, said Stella is a sweet, beautiful and kind soul.

He remembers receiving the call from his apostle asking to walk this journey with the McGear family. “It was a difficult time for them but we believed and prayed for her healing fervently. We visited them regularly in the hospital. We almost lost her but she progressed so well and we were overjoyed when she was discharged from the hospital,” he said.

“It was hard to say goodbye. She has so much to look forward to in her little life and I wish her all the best,” Mr Wyngaardt said.

A close friend, Marilie Venter, said she saw how a small human being changed into a friendly human. “She was always smiling even though she was going through this challenge. She persevered and kept going, even at her age.”

Stella has to live in an extra hygienic and safe environment, as clean as possible so that she doesn’t come into contact with germs. She also cannot be in big spaces with crowds. “She can do whatever she wishes in the future as long as it’s clean,” said Mr McGear.

Mr McGear said those facing the same situation with their babies should act fast, immediately. “There is some light at the end of the tunnel for those in the same situation as us. In order for you to get to that light you need to carry on. Keep going and don’t lose faith,” said Mr McGear.

August is Organ Donor Awareness Month in South Africa and the country is regarded as a world leader in the field of organ transplantation. For more information about organ donation and how to become an organ donor, log on to https://odf.org.za or call 0800 22 66 11 (toll free).

If you would like to get into contact with the McGears, you can email Judine McGear at kampferjudine@gmail.com and Adrian McGear on adrianmcgear@gmail.com