A father has saved his child in a medical first in New Zealand, by donating two live organs.
Eleven-year-old Jessie Pycroft has become the youngest New Zealander to get a double transplant. His father Wayne donated a kidney and a piece of his liver, becoming the first person to donate
two organs.
Jessie was born with a rare genetic enzyme defect which slowly destroyed his liver and his kidneys.
Wayne Pycroft told TV One News "Something had to be done. Like any parent would do for their child. I hadn't thought much about it. I just put my hand up and that was it."
Transplant surgeon Dr Stephen Munn said: "The risk can be as high as one in 200 to the life of the patient to donate a piece of liver but in a case like this it would be that risk plus the small add-on risk of donating a kidney as well."
"We worked for many hours, many hours longer than we anticipated to try and hook up the artery and the piece of liver from his father and we were not successful in hooking up that artery despite five attempts," said Mr Munn.
Jessie survived but struggled with infection in the following month, with his heart stopping at one point for several minutes.
He has overcome the infection, and is cured of his liver disease. "He's a really brave boy and he's fought the odds," said Mr Pycroft.
