Namibian baby in need of lifesaving operation

MADRIE Shanjenka (11 months) suffers from a rare liver disease called biliary atresia and needs N$150 000 for a lifesaving living-donor transplant with her sister as donor.

The disease is caused by a virus that attacks the bile ducts of the liver. If it is diagnosed early enough, the affected parts can be cut away, but Madrie was diagnosed too late and her whole liver is affected.She is now in an advanced stage of liver cirrhosis and liver failure and needs a liver transplant urgently.The operation cannot be done in South Africa, as the child is not a citizen and thus does not qualify for organ transplants there.Madrie’s father, Dries Shanjenka, did some research on the Internet and found out that a living-donor transplant can be done in India.Older sister Olivia (21) is a perfect donor candidate because she has the same rare blood type as her baby sister.A small part of Olivia’s liver will be cut off and transplanted into Madrie.The liver is the only organ in the human body that can grow back to its original size, so both sisters will eventually have full-sized livers.The doctors in India are ready to do the living-donor transplant but the family needs some money.The family’s expenses, including the surgery, travel and accommodation, will amount to N$350 000.The family has raised some money and their medical aid fund will contribute towards the costs, but they urgently need another N$150 000.”My parents have already lost one child and they cannot lose another.I am in a position where I can keep the family together and save the life of my sister, and thus I will donate part of my liver,” Olivia says.Donations can be made to the MA Shanjenka Trust at First National Bank, branch number 280 172, account number 6210 2788 124.If it is diagnosed early enough, the affected parts can be cut away, but Madrie was diagnosed too late and her whole liver is affected.She is now in an advanced stage of liver cirrhosis and liver failure and needs a liver transplant urgently.The operation cannot be done in South Africa, as the child is not a citizen and thus does not qualify for organ transplants there.Madrie’s father, Dries Shanjenka, did some research on the Internet and found out that a living-donor transplant can be done in India.Older sister Olivia (21) is a perfect donor candidate because she has the same rare blood type as her baby sister.A small part of Olivia’s liver will be cut off and transplanted into Madrie.The liver is the only organ in the human body that can grow back to its original size, so both sisters will eventually have full-sized livers.The doctors in India are ready to do the living-donor transplant but the family needs some money.The family’s expenses, including the surgery, travel and accommodation, will amount to N$350 000.The family has raised some money and their medical aid fund will contribute towards the costs, but they urgently need another N$150 000.”My parents have already lost one child and they cannot lose another.I am in a position where I can keep the family together and save the life of my sister, and thus I will donate part of my liver,” Olivia says.Donations can be made to the MA Shanjenka Trust at First National Bank, branch number 280 172, account number 6210 2788 124.