HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-12-20, Page 6060 Times -Advocate
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Family receives perfect present
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Jennifer,
Bob and Ian Brown of
Exeter will get the best
Christmas present they
could have imagined this
year, when the family gets
to spend their first
Christmas at home with
the newest member of the
family, Ema, who has
spent most of the first 16
months of her life in the
hospital, including
Christmas of 2005.
The Browns have lived
in Exeter for two years,
with Jennifer from St.
Marys and Bob from
Newfoundland.
After being born to par-
ents Bob and Jennifer
Aug. 9, 2005, Ema was
diagnosed with
Galactosemia and couldn't
digest sugar.
Jennifer said Ema,born
in Stratford, was unable to
clot her blood and was
transferred to Children's
Hospital in London.
By the end of October,
Ema was on a liver donor
list while hospital staff
tried to regenerate her
liver with daily infusions of
blood, platelets and plas-
ma.
With the seriousness of
Ema's condition she was
put at the top of the list for
a search that went across
Canada.
Ema's small size meant
it was difficult to find a
donor.
Bob was tested and
found to be a suitable
donor, but due to the dan-
ger of using a live donor
he was to be used only as
a last ditch measure.
In order to check his
suitability, he was given
an ultrasound as well hav-
ing blood and tissue sam-
ples taken to test his gen-
eral health.
According to Bob, if he
had
Christmas at home — Sixteen month old Ema Brown will be spending her first Christmas at home in Exeter with her parents Bob and
Jennifer and brother Ian this year, after spending much of the first part of her life, including last Christmas in hospital before receiving a
liver transplant. (photo/Pat Bolen)
been selected, only one
piece of his liver would
have been taken and it
would have grown back in
three months, although it
would have taken six
months to fully recover.
A potential liver donor
was found Dec. 21, but by
the time the Browns got to
the hospital, the liver was-
n't able to be used.
It was a somber 2005
Christmas for the Browns,
who opened their presents
in the hospital and had
family pictures taken
there.
But time was starting to
run out for Ema by late
December, with only a
couple of weeks of life left
for her before a donor was
found.
On Dec. 29, Ema under-
went a 12 -hour surgery to
replace her liver, receiving
part of a liver from an
adult donor and the other
two pieces going to other
transplant recipients.
Although the surgery
went well according to
Jennifer, Ema required
constant transfusions,
receiving 22 units of blood
with none of her own
blood left by the time the
surgery was completed.
Ema received the trans-
plant well according to
the parents, although she
became dependent on the
ventilator and couldn't be
taken off.
With the size of the piece
of liver she was given,
Ema couldn't be closed up
completely but over sever-
al days hospital staff kept
stretching her skin until it
could fit over the new
liver.
In intensive care for
eight weeks after the
surgery, Ema was then
moved to the low immune
floor before finally arriving
home March 8.
But Ema was back in
hospital again shortly after
catching a cold before
arriving home to stay in
June.
Ema has shown few
symptoms from her year-
long ordeal, other than a
"big happy smile" scar
across her stomach from
her 92 stitches that will
fade slightly but will
always be there, says
Jennifer.
Although small for her
age Ema is starting to sit
up and crawl and is on a
high calorie formula to
help her gain weight.
She is also on 14 anti-
rejection drugs that will
eventually drop to seven,
probably for the rest of
her life.
Ema also goes in for
monthly checkups and
blood work, but due to the
length of time required to
test for Galactosemia, she
hasn't been officially
cleared of the disease,
But her parents are
treating their daughter
right now as if she is clear.
"It's been a wild year,"
says Jennifer.
"If we made it through
this, we can make it
through anything," adds
Bob.
Twelve safety travel tips for Christmas
OTTAWA - in keeping with this festive
season, the Canada Safety Council today
released its "Twelve Travel Tips of
Christmas" to help Canadians plan ahead
during this time of hustle, bustle and jin-
gling bells.
1. Let people know your travel itiner-
ary - either leave a copy with neighbours
or family members...and always keep
people informed if your plans happen to
change!
2. Check to make sure your passports,
visas and vaccinations are all up-to-date.
Leave copies of your passports, driver's
license, credit cards and other important
documents with family members (in case
of theft).
3. while you are away, make it look like
someone is home. Arrange to have a car
parked in your driveway, plan to have
someone pick up your mail and shovel
your sidewalk. Don't give thieves or bur-
glars the inside edge: plan ahead!
4. Going somewhere exotic? Plan your
travel budget ahead of time and be
aware of the local currency. A good trav-
el book on the country will explain how
much the Canadian dollar is worth, or
you can visit a currency exchange before
you leave.
5. Research your destination before-
hand. What are the entry requirements?
Do they require proof of citizenship?
Photo identification?
Vaccinations? Certain
countries may require
an "International
Certificate of
Vaccinations" against
infectious diseases
before you are allowed
to enter. Talk to your local travel agent,
physician or the embassy of the country
you plan on visiting.
6. Do you have a full supply of your
prescription medication packed? If not,
make sure you fill up before you go. It is
a good idea to contact the nearest con-
sulate to find out the country's health
laws regarding controlled medication.
You may be required to obtain a doctor's
written prescription for you medication.
7. Purchase travel insurance. If you
plan on driving after you arrive, find out
the type of insurance you require.
8. Luggage identification is important.
Clearly identify your luggage with your
name, current address and phone
number. Put the information both
inside and outside of your bag.
Remove old claim tags that might
confuse handlers. Attach a bright
ribbon or bandanna to your lug-
gage to help distinguish your bags
from similar ones in the baggage
claim area.
9. Pack a basic first-aid kit for minor
emergencies. Include such items as
antibiotic ointment, tablets for severe
bacterial forms of diarrhea, tablets for
relief from diarrhea, antifungal cream,
antiseptic ointment, aspirin, bandages,
lotion for insect bites, electrolyte replace-
ment tablets to replace body salts lost
through sweating or diarrhea, lotion for
insect bites, insect repellent, safety pins,
scissors (not permitted to be carried -on),
soap, sunscreen, thermometer and
tweezers.
10. Remember to register with the
Canadian Embassy of the country you
intend to visit, either before you leave or
after you arrive. For further information
on that, contact www.dfait.gc.ca.
11. Visit the Canadian Air Transport
Security Authority website at www.catsa-
acsta.gc.ca for the latest information for
air travellers, including the latest security
measures.
12. Wherever you are going, always
make sure to be safe - enjoy the holidays
and remember to celebrate prudently
with an eye to your health and wellness!
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
For further information contact:
www.safety-council.org