15 years of liver transplants to save young lives

Organ transplantation is the gift of life for many sick children. Since 1986, The Paediatric Liver Transplantation Unit at The Children's Hospital at Westmead has been offering this gift to children and young people from around Australia.

One of only three such units in this country, we have performed 121 liver transplants on 104 children over the past 15 years. Liver transplantation for most of these children has been a life-changing experience. Most have gone on to lead normal lives, some completing tertiary education and joining the adult workforce.

A special luncheon will be held on Wednesday 28 November from 12.30pm to 3pm at the Bernie Amos Oval and Clubhouse in the grounds of Westmead Hospital. This will be a chance to celebrate 15 years of Paediatric Liver Transplants here at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and also to farewell Dr Stuart Dorney, who has headed up the unit since its inception and is moving on to take up another position within the Hospital.

Around 150 people will be attending the celebrations, including families of the 104 children who have received a liver transplant since 1986 and the Hospital staff who have cared for them over the years.

The biggest challenge for this otherwise hugely successful program is the low organ donation rate in Australia at present. Currently we have 13 children on the waiting list for a liver transplant.

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Julie Stromborg
Public Relations Officer
Ph: (02) 9845 3580
Fax: (02) 9845 3567
Pager: (02) 9845 0000 and quote page no. 6920