Shrewsbury's Harry out of intensive care after liver op
A young boy from Shrewsbury who has undergone a vital liver transplant is out of intensive care.
Four year old Harry Maceachen had been in the intensive care unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital following the operation, which saw him given part of his father, Simon's liver.
The youngster, from Herongate, Shrewsbury, who is now recovering on the hospital's liver ward, has also had his first visit from his father, who had been recuperating at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Harry's mum, Clare, 40, said they were pleased to have passed another vital point in her son's recovery.
She said: "It is really good news, both Harry and Simon are doing really really well so hopefully that will continue over the next few days."
Harry was discharged from the intensive care unit on Monday morning, and his mother explained that doctors would now concentrate on building his strength up.
She said: "He has started eating and drinking again since we have been back on the ward. Obviously he was quite weak after five or six days of not eating so he is looking a bit more like himself now, not so tired."
Mrs Maceachen said Harry would now undergo physiotherapy as part of his recovery, while her husband is awaiting news on the next stage of his recuperation.
The transplant was the second that Harry has had to undergo after being diagnosed with biliary atresia – a rare and life-threatening disease that damages the liver in newborns – when he was just nine weeks old. The youngster underwent his first liver transplant just weeks short of his first birthday.
While the initial operation was a success there were some problems so the Greenfields Primary School pupil needed the help of his father.
The transplant was carried last week when Mr Maceachen had part of his liver removed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The liver was then taken four miles across the city by the transplant team to Harry who was waiting in theatre at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
