Where can our childs new liver come from?
Your child’s new liver can come from one of several sources. Most transplanted livers come from deceased organ donors — called a cadaveric transplant. Organ donors are adults or children who have become critically ill or injured and have been declared brain dead. If the donor is an adult, he may have agreed to be an organ donor ahead of time. Parents or spouses can also agree to donate a relative’s organs. Your child may get a whole liver or a segment of one. If an adult liver is available and is an appropriate match for two children (or a child and an adult) on the waiting list, the donor liver can be divided into two segments, and each part transplanted (called a split liver transplant). A living family member may also be able to donate a section of his liver — called a living-related transplant. Relatives who donate a portion of their livers can live healthy lives with the remaining segment, which will grow to original size of the whole liver. The liver is the only organ in the huma
