National Transplant Day commemorates first heart transplant

There are currently approximately 3,500 people awaiting organ and cornea transplants in South Africa today. Tragically less than 1,000 will receive a transplant and the "Gift of Life" this year.

Lian Marais, a nine month old baby boy is in desperate need of a life-saving heart transplant. Lian was born on 28 January 2009 at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital. At 3.6kg and 50cm long, Lian was a healthy baby boy. On 5 March his parents took him to Netcare Pretoria East Hospital as he had been ill for two days. After many tests the paeditrician picked up an abnormality and he was taken to intensive care. He was diagnosed with biventricular heart failure and he was placed on a ventilator and taken to Netcare Sunninghill Hospital. From there, Lian was transferred to the paediatric ICU at Netcare Unitas Hospital for further treatment. He was stabilised and after five days he was able to breathe on his own and started bottle feeding soon after that. Lian's condition worsened and it was decided that a heart transplant was a suitable option for him. In September 2009 he was referred to the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital where his family met the team, did the necessary tests and discussed the results. At the moment his heart function is good but the damage is too far gone. A heart transplant is the only option for Lian to survive.

Lian is the youngest child in the country currently on the waiting list for a heart transplant. There are another four children like Lian who are desperately awaiting a second chance at life.

The Organ Donor Foundation urgently appeals to the public to become organ donors. Contact the Organ Donor Foundation for more information on how to be an organ donor. The need for hearts, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, livers, and corneas is crucial in this country.

Call the toll free information line 0800 22 66 11 for more information about becoming an organ donor or go to www.odf.org.za.