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Tiny donor, giant gift
© St. Petersburg Times It has been a trying year for Joey and Lisa Hawk. Weeks after their son's birth in April, the young couple learned that only a liver transplant would give him a chance at life. In the months that followed, even as they saw his condition worsen, they continued to hold fast to hopes that their child would get the healthy liver he desperately needed. The Hawks' prayers were answered on Dec. 21, when an early morning call notified them that a liver had become available for 8-month-old Aiden. Aiden and his father were airlifted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for the new liver. Mrs. Hawk was already in Georgia, awaiting results of tests being conducted on a stranger who had volunteered to be a donor. That day, during a nine-hour surgery, Aiden received the liver of a 3-month-old infant who had recently died. There were complications, and Aiden was returned to surgery two days later to correct what his mother has described as a "blood flow problem." Late last week, the family reported that all was going well. "Aiden is doing great," said Mrs. Hawk, 26, sounding relieved and happy. "His prognosis is excellent. He's doing really well, and we got a wonderful Christmas miracle. ... We are just so thankful. All our dreams have come true. We know that there is a long road ahead of us of recovery. ... But we can handle all that." In October, Joey Hawk, 29, learned he was not a suitable match to donate part of his liver to Aiden. Since then, the baby's uncle, godmother and a complete stranger have been tested as possible donors. However, because of Aiden's worsening condition, his name was moved up on the list of patients to receive a liver from a cadaver. Aiden's illness was caused by a disorder called biliary atresia, which destroys the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the intestine. Children with the disease live for about two years. Aiden's mother said the family has received support from relatives, friends and strangers. Mrs. Hawk, who participates in discussion forums connected to the Chronicle of the Horse, a weekly publication for the sport horse industry, shared news of her son's disease with other participants. They donated more than $2,800 to a trust fund set up through the American Liver Foundation, a nonprofit, national voluntary health organization, to pay for Aiden's ongoing care. Forum participants also are holding an auction to pay for Aiden's continuing care (www.auctionforaiden.org). Aiden's grandmother, Marian Lovern, expressed gratitude Friday for the way everything had turned out. She and her husband, Tom, had driven to Atlanta for Aiden's surgery. "He's taking food already. He's a little superstar," she said. Mrs. Lovern said Aiden could be in the hospital for weeks and then will have to remain in the Atlanta area until "he has a clean bill of health." Even as she rejoices for her grandson, Mrs. Lovern thinks of the parents who gave their baby's liver to save Aiden's life. "We ask for prayers for that family," she said, "for that was a gift of love."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times South Pinellas desks 2002: The Year in Review |
