Boy, 2, Recovering After Undergoing Liver Transplant
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) –A little boy is recovering after undergoing a liver transplant.
After 18 long months on a waiting list, Lucas Goeller, 2, received his first offer for a liver transplant last week.
He underwent nine hours of surgery and is resting in the ICU at Children's Hospital.
"Lucas received his liver transplant last night in a multi-team surgery and is doing very well," said Dr. George Mazariegos, the chief of Pediatric Transplantation at Children's Hospital. "It's been an amazing experience to witness the teamwork of family and friends, medical teams across the nation."
It was a long night for his mother Jess and father Rick, waiting at the hospital.
"My husband and I, we just kinda hung out in the waiting room," said Jess Goeller, Lucas's mom.
Lucas received a direct liver donation from Olivia, a 3-year-old in Nebraska who had terminal brain cancer. Oh her facebook blog, Olivia's mom shared a tribute to her daughter and embraced that she was able to donate Olivia's organs.
Sharing her conversation with Olivia's mom, Jess Goeller said, "we talked this morning and she said that it was helping her in her grieving process to know that all these people cared and that Olivia had a purpose and that was to save lives."
The two will continue to be in touch in the days and weeks ahead. As little Lucas recovers, Jess Goeller said she's trying to manage her emotions.
"It's still the very beginning stages for Lucas," said Jess Goeller, "he still has a lot to overcome."
Added Dr. Mazariegos, "He'll be monitored first and we'll be ready to intervene with other interventions if need be to address that."
Another local boy received an organ from Olivia -- 4-year-old Angelo Giorno of Derry.
He received a bowel transplant thanks to Olivia.
Goeller's family started a grassroots effort to spread the word in hopes of getting a liver donated to the 2-year-old through a Facebook page, a GoFundMe page and they even received free advertising on local billboards.
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