Oliver, 7, joins campaign to sign up organ donors

OLIVER Howe was only five when he received the gift of life through a liver transplant — two years later he is part of a campaign encouraging Queenslanders to register as organ donors.

OLIVER Howe, of Shorncliffe, was only five when he received the gift of life through a liver transplant.

Now — during DonateLife Week (July 29-August 5) — he is one of the faces in a campaign encouraging more Queenslanders to register as organ donors.

Oliver, now 7, was born with biliary atresia, a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts and he owes his life to an anonymous donor.

His mother Nichole Sutcliffe said, “The greatest hero (that) my family, my son and I knowwas the one who made the decision to be an organ donor, and their family for accepting that. They gave Oliver new life.

“When Oliver was born he had no bile ducts functional external to the liver and his gall bladder was described as ‘a piece of gristle’ and wasn’t functioning.”

Oliver Howe, of Shorncliffe, the day before his liver transplant almost two years ago, when he was five.

At one month he had surgery to create bile ducts out of his intestines so bile could be released from his liver.

“He has had regular admissions into hospital with illnesses connected to the disease, to have infusions, check ups and medical procedures,” Ms Sutcliffe said.

“As a result of advanced liver failure he had a nasal gastric tube for 18 months with specialised formula designed to support the liver and gain weight to be strong enough for transplant.”

Then Oliver broke his arm and contracted encephalopathy (a brain disease) and was diagnosed in end stage liver failure.

“The days leading up to the transplant were certainly very stressful. Without that transplant there were other potential complications of brain damage.

“Oliver was scared going in because he did understand, because that is what he had been facing his whole life, and it was tough seeing him days after in pain.

“Oliver was a little trooper. He went into surgery about 1pm and we didn’t see him until 11pm. By 3pm the next day he was doing a lap of the intensive care ward.

“Kids are so resilient. When he was three I taught him how to take capsules because he had so many.”

Ms Sutcliffe said although the family made sure Oliver had as normal a childhood as possible, the transplant had changed all their lives.

“The transplant has taken away that fear — what if he went downhill so quickly and we couldn’t get there.

“I have an older son and a younger daughter and the transplant has allowed me time with the family; before I was running off to hospital all the time.

“I used to make the best of every day because you just never know. I think there’s a worry in the back of your mind all the time.

“I rationalised it — when you’re a parent you probably have that anyway, and you just need to celebrate what you have.”

Oliver is now in year 2 at St Kieran’s Primary School in Brighton. He does karate, and loves soccer and scootering.

Oliver Howe, 7, of Shorncliffe in one of the images which will appear in Westfield North Lakes this week, encouraging more Queenslanders to register as organ donors during DonateLife Week.

He also enjoyed being part of the southeast Queensland Westfield campaign, with his image on display in Westfield North Lakes this week.

“He had such a great time at the shoot, they made him feel special,” his mother said.

Ms Sutcliffe is a passionate advocate for organ donation and has become a community champion at DonateLife Qld.

“You never know when it’s going to affect somebody that you love so make sure you make your decision known and register with the donor website and let your loved ones know,” she said.