9 Year Old Boy Receives Five Transplants Simultaneously
Last Updated on July 12, 2024 by admin22
Microvilli Inclusion (MVID) generates diarrhea as soon as the baby is born and compromises development (Image: Vidal Balielo Jr./Unsplash)
Image CanalTech
Jakob Perez, a 9-year-old boy from the USA, received new organs: pancreas, liver, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine due to a rare disease.
Imagine needing five organ transplants? This is the case for Jakob Perez, a 9-year-old boy from Michigan, USA. He suffers from a rare disease called microvillus inclusion disease (MVID), which prevents his body from absorbing nutrients. Because of this condition, he needed new pancreas, liver, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
“He can eat and drink, but nothing is absorbed by his system. So, he has been on intravenous nutrition his entire life,” explains his mother, Mickaela Perez, in an interview with TV5 (WNEM).
The situation was extremely challenging as all the transplanted organs needed to come from the same donor, who had to be a child of the same size as Jakob.
However, on the 26th, the family managed to get Jakob through the surgery. “It was surreal. We were reaching a point where we weren’t sure if this would happen. We tried to prepare for it as best as we could,” said Joshua Perez, Jakob’s father.
Understanding Organ Transplants
An organ transplant is a surgical operation where a failing or damaged organ in the human body is replaced with a working organ from a donor. These transplants are necessary for patients with end-stage organ failure, where the organ in question no longer functions properly, and no other treatment options are available.
Types of Organ Transplants:
- Autograft: Transplanting tissues within the same person’s body.
- Allograft: Transplanting organs or tissues between two genetically non-identical members of the same species.
- Xenograft: Transplanting organs or tissues between different species.
For Jakob, the transplants he underwent are considered allografts, as they came from a donor. This type of surgery involves significant complexity, especially when multiple organs are involved, requiring a high level of precision and coordination from the medical team.
Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/Mickaela Perez / Canaltech
Post-Transplant Health and Recovery
The immediate period after an organ transplant is critical for the patient. The body might recognize the new organ as a foreign object and initiate an immune response against it, known as rejection. To prevent this, patients must take immunosuppressive medications for the rest of their lives to help their bodies accept the new organ.
Effects and Considerations Post-Transplant:
- Immunosuppression: Lifelong medication to prevent rejection.
- Infection Risk: Increased vulnerability due to suppressed immune system.
- Quality of Life: Potential improvement as the transplanted organs restore functions lost due to disease.
Post-Transplant Health Updates for Jakob
Three days after the surgery, Mickaela took to social media to update on Jakob’s health:
“Jake removed his bandage and, my God… it looks incredible! He got up and walked to the chair again, even smiled and made some sarcastic comments, so we know he’s feeling a bit more like himself. He is off the painkiller IV but still has the PCA button he can press if he needs some comfort. A big day for this little guy,” wrote Mickaela.
The next day, she posted another update:
“Jake made our hearts so happy last night! He had a spark of the old Jake around 11 PM and wanted to paint, play with some toys, and play cards! He was playing and smiling! Lord, it was good for the soul! He woke up around 4 AM with a terrible headache and a bit of a stomachache, but it finally subsided, and he’s okay again,” she commented.
Microvillus Inclusion Disease (MVID)
Microvillus Inclusion Disease (MVID) primarily affects intestinal function, resulting in a significant loss of microvilli on the surface of intestinal cells, thus preventing nutrient absorption.
As a result, the disease causes persistent diarrhea from the first months of life, leading to dehydration and impairing growth and development.
In addition to chronic diarrhea, symptoms include severe malnutrition, weight loss, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, electrolyte disturbances, and liver function changes due to malabsorption.
The condition can affect other organs, as seen in Jakob’s case, who required five simultaneous transplants due to chronic malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies.
Jakob Perez’s story is one of resilience and medical triumph. Despite the immense challenges posed by his condition and the complexity of the surgery, Jakob’s successful transplants offer hope for improved quality of life. His journey underscores the importance of organ donation and the advancements in medical science that make such life-saving procedures possible.
Source: TV5 (WNEM), National Organization for Rare Disorders