momโข Donatesโค Part of Liver to Save 22-Month-Old Son From End-Stage Failure
A mother’s quick decision to โdonate a portion of her liver saved her son’s life after he wasโข diagnosed withโ end-stage liver failureโ at just โ10 months old. Ashlynn Moss, of oklahoma, discovered herโ son Luka needed a transplant after he began โexhibiting symptoms including jaundice and lethargy in Februaryโ 2023.
Luka’s condition rapidly deteriorated,โค and doctors resolute his liver was failing due to a โคrare genetic condition. Facing a critical โขshortage of donor organs, โMoss underwent โtesting โฃand discovered she wasโ a match, ultimately choosing to donate 30% of her own liver to her son. The accomplishedโ transplant, performed atโข Oklahomaโ Children’s Hospital in March 2023, offeredโค Luka a second โchance at life and โhighlights the life-saving โคpotential of living organ donation.Moss initially noticed Luka was unwell when he โbegan to โdevelop jaundice and โseemedโฃ unusually tired.โฃ After multiple doctor visits, โaโ diagnosisโฃ of Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiencyโค was made, aโ genetic disorder that can cause liverโข and lung disease.โฃ “His liver โwas shutting down,” Moss explained in aโ TikTok video documenting their journey, which has since gained โคwidespread attention. “He was in end-stage liver โขfailure.”
With time running out, the family was โฃplaced on the transplant list. โHowever, โฃthe wait for a suitable donor can be lengthy and uncertain. โขrecognizingโค the โฃurgency โขofโค the situation, Moss volunteered to โคbeโ tested as a potential living โdonor.”I didn’t evenโข hesitate,”โ she told Newsweek. โ”I knew โฃIโข had to try.”
The surgery was a success, and Luka has made remarkable progress since the transplant. Unless he experiences complications, he is not expected to need furtherโ surgeries. He currently takes daily anti-rejection medication and undergoes monthly liver function tests.
“Myโฃ life hasn’t been the same asโ this journey started. My โขviewpoint has changed, โand not a single day of being alive hasโ been takenโฃ for granted,”โ Moss said. “Watching him learningโค new things, laughing,โ and playing is bliss. God and his team โคof doctors saved his life; I โฃwas just a piece of theโ puzzle.”
Moss shares updates โon Luka’s progress onโฃ TikTok (@ashlynnmoss91214), hoping to raise awareness about organ donationโ and inspire others facing similar challenges.