The horrible diagnosis that bonded two mums and their two little girls who shared a hospital ward for years

The mums of two adorable little girls who live in different states, almost 500km apart, have forged an everlasting friendship, bonded through heartache, joy – and a mother’s love.

The mums of two adorable little girls who live in different states, almost 500km apart, have forged an everlasting friendship, bonded through heartache, joy – and a mother’s love.

The precious youngsters are also firm “besties for life”.

Thea Hattersley and Jhanvi Beejay have each undergone liver transplants – becoming among the youngest Australians to join the organ transplant waitlist – after being born with biliary atresia, a rare blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gall bladder.

Thea, from Adelaide, spent the first year of her life in hospital while Jhanvi, from Robinvale in Victoria’s northwest, was critically ill for her first 10 months, the devastating diagnosis given just minutes after she was born.

For two years the girls shared wards at both the Women’s and Children’s in Adelaide as well as Melbourne’sRoyal Children’s Hospital, where the life-saving transplants were done.

Mia Fulgencio with her little Thea and Vino Manisekaran with Jhanvi before the babies got their liver transplants. Picture: Supplied

Baby Thea Hattersley spent the first year of her life in hospital. Picture: Supplied

During that time Thea’s mum Mia Fulgencio, and Jhanvi’s mum, Vino Manisekaran, became each other’s rocks – their respective husbands, Brett and Beejay, needing to work and maintain home life.

Jhanvi, while several months younger than Mia, was the first to get a transplant, due to the seriousness of her condition.

“(Our friendship) has been important for both of us because we were both away from our families so we were really all each other had,” Ms Fulgencio says.

“It was nice to have someone to confide in when things turned to shit, as there were days when it did … some days are tougher than others.

“Then it was nice when things were going smoothly to order Uber eats and share a meal together.

“It helped our girls were the same age, that they had the same doctors, the same condition … to be able to talk about the process, our feelings and just have someone to lean on; when things get scary; you just need someone there and we were there for each other, like family.”

Supportive mums Vino Manisekaran and Mia Fulgencio hold each other’s babies – little Thea and Jhanvi – during a hospital stay. Picture: supplied

Ms Manisekaran agreed her hospital friend provided light in the darkest moments.

“It is so scary seeing your daughter suffering every day … whenever I have needed someone to talk to heart-to-heart, Mia and Thea have been with us, our family,” the mother of one says.

“Mia and I would look after each other’s babies when one of us needed to rest … she is the one person I can call anytime – and Mia knows I will answer any time for her.

“Many times before Jhanvi’s transplant we thought we were going to lose her … she spent her entire life in hospital; it was very serious, her bones were fragile, she was feeding through a tube.”

Mum Vino Manisekaran with her daughter, Jhanvi, who is thriving post transplant. Picture: Supplied

Little liver transplant recipient Jhanvi Beejay is loving life post surgery Picture: Supplied

The brave young duo became the best of friends and still love catching up whenever they are in the same state.

“They have been friends since Jhanvi was two weeks of age … they have been playing together, eating together, learning to walk together – reaching their milestones together,” Ms Manisekaran says.

“Seeing these kids growing together after their transplants is magic.”

Happy and healthy post transplant. Mia Fulgencio holds her friend’s little girl Jhanvi while Vino Manisekaran is pictured with little Thea. Picture: supplied

Thea’s mum says both families are cherishing time with their girls, describing her youngest child, a beloved little sister to William, 12, as curious and “sassy”, a year on from her transplant.

“She is a typical three-year-old … she loves to have water play outside, loves to paint and draw, loves her dolls, loves her Disney princesses, loves to pretend to cook and be a barista – she makes coffees every hour!” she laughs.

“She has gone from having a feeding tube through her nose to nothing at all and from 12 medications to just one, which is her anti-rejection drug … at the moment she is as healthy as she can be.

“(Thea and Jhanvi’s) journey continues … we just try to keep the girls as safe and healthy as possible.

“As much as I miss Vino, I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone to go back to the hospital, to the way the girls were … they were just so unwell.”

To join the donor register, go to donatelife.gov.au

Thea Hattersley, now 3, is thriving post transplant at home in Adelaide. Picture: Roy Vandervegt