Sarah Duke has an extra special reason for enjoying Mother's Day today.She remains forever grateful she was able to save the life of her youngest child by giving her part of her liver.Her daughter Cleo (4) is "doing fabulous" since undergoing transplant surgery in London. "I just feel so lucky that I was a suitable donor for Cleo," said the mother-of-three.Sarah is a clinical scientist who works in the genetics laboratory at Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin.Her husband Phil will cook a celebration meal for Sarah at their home in Lucan, Co Dublin, today and they have been looking forward to spending the day with their three children Nina (8), Joni (7) and Cleo."We remain extra vigilant for Cleo at present, as her immune system will remain suppressed for the rest of her life," Sarah told the Sunday Independent.Four weeks after Cleo was born, her public health nurse Carole Leslie suspected that Cleo's jaundice and pale stools could be the signs of liver disease and encouraged Sarah to bring forward a planned health check.Three weeks later, Cleo was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia and soon afterwards was placed on a waiting list for liver transplant surgery.She received wonderful care from a whole team of staff headed by Consultant Dr Annemarie Broderick at Crumlin Children's Hospital. They were supported by the hospital's liver team and by Children's Liver Disease Ireland.But months went by without a single call regarding a potential donor.Cleo's health continued to deteriorate as her jaundice worsened, her tummy swelled, and she was itchy, constantly throwing up and losing weight. It was believed Cleo would not survive to her second birthday without a transplant.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/a-mothers-wonderful-gift-of-life-to-little-cleo-39064670.html