Oliver Howe is able to live like a normal 10-year-old thanks to three lifesaving organ transplants
Oliver Howe is a happy and cheeky child who loves to play cricket with his mates – you wouldn’t know that he had been on death’s door three times.
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Oliver Howe is a happy and cheeky 10-year-old who loves to play cricket with his mates and read.
To meet him, you wouldn’t know that he has faced death three times.
Oliver was born with biliary atresia – a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts that occurs in infants.
In his 10 short years he has undergone three organ transplants.
Quest Community News is partnering with Donate Life to urge people to make registering as an organ donor one of their New Year’s resolutions.
It takes 60 seconds and can be done onright hereon your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Oliver was just four weeks old when he had his first surgery during during which surgeons created bile ducts out of his intestines.
Despite the surgery, Oliver still spent a great deal of time in hospital for infusions, check-ups and other procedures.
Advanced liver failure meant he was fed through a nasal gastric tube for 18 months. This got him strong enough for future surgeries.
When he was five, Oliver broke his arm and contracted encephalopathy (a brain disease) and was diagnosed with end-stage liver failure.
“He got very, very sick, very, very quickly,” mum Nichole Sutcliffe said.
“He was made a priority because of how sick he was.
“As a parent the waiting, for the right liver, was a hard thing.
“But while you are waiting you are sitting there thinking about the other family that have just lost somebody that they loved and cherished.
“In their darkest time they have given hope and that hope turns into life.”
Oliver got his lifesaving liver transplant in November of 2016.
It was a long 10-hour surgery but the resilient five-year-old was back to his bubbly self within hours.
Everything was fine for the next three years, until it wasn’t.
Oliver once again needed a new liver.
His second transplant took place in September 2019.
But a rare clotting complication meant a clot had formed and blocked the artery carrying blood to his liver.
Oliver went back in for another lengthy surgery and transplant just 12 days later.
“If I could send a message to these families, even though we didn’t get to keep the first two livers for long, they still made a difference in Oliver’s life,” Ms Sutcliffe said.
“Without them I wouldn’t have Oliver and that is how simple it is.”
Oliver is now back at St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe, plays cricket with the school team, loves reading and has his orange belt in karate.
Looking at him splash in the water at Sandgate you would have no idea what Oliver had been through – unless you caught a glimpse of his scar.
Oliver still has to take lots of medication and makes sure he does everything he can to lead a healthy life for him and his liver.
“I eat lots of fruit, my favourite are strawberries, and I love to play outside and cricket with my friends,” Oliver said.
While the brave 10-year-old has limited memories of his many hospital stays and surgeries he does know why he is able to do all the things he can and he is so grateful for those who helped him.
“They saved my life,” Oliver said.
Mythbusters
Myth: I’m too old to be an organ and tissue donor
Fact: Age is NOT a barrier - people over 80 have become organ and tissue donors Myth: I'm not healthy enough to donate
Myth: I'm not healthy enough to donate
Fact: People who smoke, drink or have an unhealthy diet can still donate. You don’t have to be in perfect health to save lives
Myth: Organ and tissue donation is against my religion
Fact: All major religions support organ and tissue donation as an act of compassion and generosity
Myth: It's better to just let my family decide at the time
Fact: If you want to become an organ or tissue donor – you need to tell your family. It will help them at a difficult time
Myth: I can’t be an organ and tissue donor because I lived in the UK
Fact: You can donate your organs, but not your tissues
Myth: I’m already registered on my driver’s licence. I don’t need to do anything else.
Myth: I’m already registered on my driver’s licence. I don’t need to do anything else.
Fact: You need to join the Australian Organ Donor Register at donatelife.gov.au and tell your family
Myth: Organ and tissue donation disfigures the body
Fact: Organ donation is specialised surgery and does not disfigure the body Myth: Doctors won’t try as hard to save my life if I’m a registered organ donor.
Myth: Doctors won’t try as hard to save my life if I’m a registered organ donor.
Fact: Saving your life is the absolute priority of all medical staff. Organ and tissue donation is only considered when the person has died or death is inevitable
Ms Sutcliffe said organ donation was now something they spoke about often at home, with family, friends and sometimes strangers.
“Beforehand organ donation was not something that we openly discussed,” Ms Sutcliffe said.
“And now we are very much advocates. We want to share with people that it wasn’t something that had touched our hearts but when it does the perspective changes.
“People should stop and think about it and say well what if that was my nephew or niece or my daughter or grandchild.
“Organ donors save lives but they do so much more than that. They give families back their loved ones and its not just hope for Oliver now, it is a life.”
It takes just 60 seconds to register as an organ donor.
To register visit: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/join-register
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