Montana McNamara to start school 3 years after liver transplant
Young Montana McNamara captured hearts across Whittlesea after surviving liver transplant surgery aged only two. Now the inspirational five year old is about to embark on a whole new adventure.
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A courageous preschooler who underwent a liver transplant at just two years of age will start school at St Mary’s Primary in Whittlesea next year.
Montana McNamara was diagnosed with Biliary atresia at six weeks — the life threatening condition which affects six babies in Australia every year blocks the gall duct at birth, preventing bile to drain from the liver.
It caused the five year old’s liver to fail and other health issues such as high cholesterol.
Montana underwent a liver transplant in April, 2017 and her mother Monique Bibby said it was “so special” to see her brave daughter finally start a new chapter of her life.
“She’s so excited to start school — she’s absolutely wrapt to be one of the big girls now,” she said.
“She would have died without the transplant and it’s been so inspiring to see how she’s responded.”
But Ms Bibby said the past three years had not been without obstacles.
She said Montana had suffered from Post Liver Transplant Disease, where her immune system would often fail.
“We have to be careful about everything, even a simple cold,” Ms Bibby said.
“Montana will be in and out of hospital for her whole life, but we have to celebrate the small things, like her starting school.”
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Ms Bibby said the original organ donor and the donor’s family had “given her daughter life”.
“It’s mixed emotions because obviously that family is grieving a loss and that’s heartbreaking, but they have helped save my daughter’s life,” she said.
“Organ donation is so important, it really is, it changes lives forever.”
To become an organ donor, go to donatelife.gov.au