EDMONTON
Baby Emmett Smith is scheduled to receive a liver transplant after his father was determined to be a suitable match last week.
Emmett Smith was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer, in January and needs a full liver transplant. -
photo courtesy of Charlotte Francis |
Emmett's mother, Charlotte Francis, said she and Emmett's father, Michael Smith, were in line getting coffee when they heard the good news.
"We were just standing there crying," she said. "We got some strange looks."
Francis said Michael and Emmett, now five-and-a-half months old, spent last week going through tests and checkups to make sure they would both be ready for the surgery.
During Michael's surgery, which is expected to take between four and six hours, doctors will remove a piece of his liver as well as his gallbladder, Francis said.
Emmett's surgery will begin about the same time, but is expected to take between eight and nine hours.
Emmett's liver will be removed and replaced with the piece of Michael's liver, where it will hopefully grow into a full-sized organ.
Like most liver donations, Michael's liver is expected to regenerate back to its full size within a year.
When a transplant was first being discussed, doctors said Emmett would need to gain more weight before being deemed ready for surgery.
He is now about 14 lbs and is gaining a bit more as the weeks go by, Francis said.
"He's still gaining weight so that's good," she said.
Emmett is also sporting his first two teeth and his motor skills are improving every day, Francis said.
"He's still smiling and happy and his hand-eye co-ordination is getting better," she said.
Francis is originally from Fort McPherson, but lives in Whitehorse, Yukon with her common law partner, Michael, and her three other children.
Emmett was born on Nov. 21 and Francis said within a month, she knew something wasn't right.
He had trouble eating and cried as though he was in pain. He was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer, in January.
Since then, Francis and Emmett have been staying in hospitals, first at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver and then in Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton.
Even if the surgery is a success, Emmett will have to stay in the hospital for another three months. Michael will be in the hospital for at least 10 days as a patient, but will be required to stay in Edmonton as a precaution.
In the meantime, Francis said her sisters are sharing childcare duties for their other children.
"My sisters are all taking turns," she said.
Francis said she has a message for everyone who has been donating money and time during the family's time of need.
"Just pray that everything goes well and we thank them for all their support," she said.
