Hope for Little Bohdan: A Life-Saving Transplant

At the "Okhmatdyt" medical center, a three-year-old boy named Bohdan from Shepetivka was saved after suffering from a severe congenital condition – he was born without bile ducts.

The only option for saving the child was a liver transplant, which was performed using an organ from his biological father, as reported by the "Okhmatdyt" staff.

From the very first days of his life, his parents noticed their son had an unnatural yellow skin tone. They were told by local maternity staff that it was physiological jaundice that would resolve over time. However, three months later, the issue persisted.

After a visit to a cardiology center in Kyiv, where the child was examined for a congenital heart defect, doctors suspected another cause for the jaundice and admitted him to "Okhmatdyt".

Doctors immediately noted the characteristic "greenish" yellowing and pale stool – classic signs of biliary atresia, indicating the absence of bile ducts.

The boy underwent emergency surgery, after which preparations for a liver transplant began.

"The child had a complex dual pathology: both liver and heart issues. We debated for a long time with the doctors at the cardiology center about the best course of action, as the risks were high in both cases. Ultimately, we decided: first the liver transplant, then cardiac surgery," said transplant surgeon Oleg Hodik.

For the first year of his life, the boy was mostly in an infectious disease unit for younger children. The medical team focused on his nutrition, stabilizing his condition, and reducing toxicity. He took small steps towards the transplant, waiting nearly three years.

"Bohdan practically grew up in our unit. There were constant hospitalizations. We did everything we could to ensure he reached this stage in the most stable condition possible," said pediatrician Yuliya Tkachenko.

Over the last year, the situation worsened: the child began to experience gastrointestinal bleeding, which became increasingly severe. A critical bleeding episode occurred during a flu infection. The boy fell into a coma, but doctors managed to save him.

Following this, preparations for the transplant continued. The donor was the boy's father, Oleksandr. Initially, he was very anxious but gathered himself before the operation and said: "This is for my child – I can do it".

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of anesthesiologists, geneticists, hepatologists, pediatricians, surgeons, nurses, and other specialists, the boy was prepared for the transplant, which lasted over 13 hours and was a success.

Only a month has passed, but according to the parents, the changes are already noticeable.

"Before the transplant, he hardly reacted to anything. Now he eats cookies, plays with toys, runs around, and interacts more easily with new people. We see progress, and that's the most important thing," shared his mother Maria.

A long period of rehabilitation, monitoring, and heart surgery lies ahead for him.

"But the most important thing is that he has already received a chance at life," concluded the medical facility.