Evan Wailes giving part of his liver to son Walter to save his life

A MELBOURNE dad will give his son the greatest Christmas gift when he donates part of his liver to save the little boy’s life.

A MILL PARK dad will give his son the greatest Christmas gift when he donates part of his liver to save the little boy’s life.

Walter Wailes, aged 10 months, has been on the transplant waiting list for four months and the marathon procedure is booked in for a few days before Christmas.

It’s the miracle Walter’s dad Evan, mum Jessica and sister Luelle have been waiting for.

The operation to split a liver has been done only twice in Australia, and Mr Wailes will be the first father to donate part of his liver to his child in the country.

Surgeons will work for at least eight hours at the Austin Hospital to remove the left, smaller side of Mr Wailes’ liver before it is transported to The Royal Childrens Hospital where doctors will work for more than 12 hours to fit it into little Walter’s body.

Walter was diagnosed with biliary atresia in April when he was just nine weeks old.

The life-threatening condition prevents toxins and waste products from leaving the body.

“It’s something he was born with,” Mrs Wailes said. “In a healthy person your bile ducts sit outside your liver, your liver processes fats, proteins and drains the bile into the intestines.

“When Walter was born, his bile ducts didn’t form properly so his liver doesn’t drain bile.”

Ms Wailes said life for the family had been “a rollercoaster”.

Evan Wailes with his wife Jessica, daughter Luelle and son Walter. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Surgery to create a bile duct out of a small piece of Walter’s intestines failed earlier this year and he was placed on the organ transplant waiting list. “We were told he would need that (transplant) within the first year of life,” Ms Wailes said.

When doctors advised Walter’s parents they could donate part of their own liver, they jumped at the chance.

“We said yes because obviously it is really hard to watch Walter get sicker and sicker,” Ms Wailes said.

“That is one of the harder things … relying on someone else’s decision (to donate).

“It’s completely out of your hands.”

After a number of tests, Mr Wailes was given the all clear to donate.

Mrs Wailes said it was an easy decision for her husband to make.

“It’s pretty amazing, (he says) it’s just what you do when it’s your kid,” she said.

“He’s not even giving it a second thought, he is not scared at all.

“I’m really proud he is just taking it all head on.”

Ms Wailes encouraged families to talk about organ donation.

“People should consider it and make it known to their families,” she said.

“Especially over Christmas, when people are going to be together, it’s a time to talk about it.”

Mr Wailes will need to take up to three months off work while his body recovers.

A family friend has launched a mycause campaign to help the family, hoping to raise $20,000.

ORGAN DONATION SAVES LIVES

■ One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people

■ About 1600 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists at any one time

■ 1241 Australians received an organ transplant last year thanks to 435 organ donors

■ 69 per cent of Australians are willing to become organ and tissue donors

Join the Australian Organ Donor Register online at donatelife.gov.au