Child transplant recipient loses her battle against liver disease
A Hobart mum who became the first child in Australia to receive a transplant using part of an adult liver has succumbed to the disease she battled all her life.
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A HOBART mother who survived a medical miracle as a child through a groundbreaking liver transplant, has died aged 35.
At 22 months, Samantha Porthouse struggled with a bile duct disease known as biliary atresia and became the first child in Australia to undergo a liver transplant using part of an adult liver.
With parents Ernie and Debra by her side, Samantha had the lifesaving procedure in Sydney in 1986, which made front-page national headlines.
After complications in 2018 from a second liver transplant, Samantha underwent a third transplant attempt last month, but died on December 19, just a week after her birthday.
Her father Ernie Porthouse said he was devastated to lose his daughter but said the family felt fortunate she had been given a second chance at life.
“It was a miracle that she survived it,’’ he said.
“She was really a product of modern medicine. We were very lucky to have her for 35 years, even though it doesn’t feel like it now.”
She will be farewelled by family and friends at a funeral in Hobart on Tuesday.
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Mr Porthouse said despite being in and out of hospital for many of her years, Samantha lived life as best she could.
He said she adored her only child, Jorja, who is eight and will now live with Samantha’s sister Tracey in Queensland.
“They were very close. Jorja meant the whole world to her, that’s why she continued to fight on like she did,’’ he said.
“She put up a real brave effort, she just wouldn’t give in.
“And she did have a lot of family support all through her life.”
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Mr Porthouse paid tribute to his daughter in the face of her ongoing health challenges.
“She was very brave,’’ he said. “She never complained, always accepted it and just got on with it.”
Samantha was educated at Bowen Rd Primary School, Ogilvie High School and Guilford Young College.
Mr Porthouse said he will forever be grateful to organ donors and the doctors who gave his daughter a second chance.
He said Samantha’s story should encourage anyone thinking about becoming a donor to make the decision.
“Look at Samantha. She had no life when she was born with liver disease and lived her life to 35 years old,’’ he said.
Mr Porthouse expressed his gratitude to staff at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, Melbourne’s Austin Hospital and the Royal Hobart Hospital for their care of Samantha.
cameron.whiteley@news.com.au
Originally published as Child transplant recipient loses her battle against liver disease