Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ontario father undergoing surgery to save one of his 3-year-old twin daughters

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Feb, 2015 10:54 AM

    TORONTO — An Ontario father was undergoing an operation Tuesday to give part of his liver to one of his ailing twin daughters.

    Michael Wagner's three-year-old twins — Phuoc and Binh — have Alagille syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the liver, heart and other organs, and without a liver transplant the girls will die.

    Doctors decided which of the twins would receive the liver transplant after the family said it could not make the heart-wrenching decision — often compared to the film "Sophie's Choice".

    "It's a GO! Phuoc in the OR to receive the best gift a father could give — a liver," reads a post on the family's Facebook page, which is managed by the girls' mother, Johanne Wagner.

    The Kingston, Ont., family said the surgery for Michael Wagner at the Toronto General Hospital is going well, according to the Facebook post.

    Phuoc Wagner will undergo surgery later today at the nearby SickKids hospital, according to a spokesperson for the hospital.

    The two operations will take 18 to 22 hours, the spokesperson said, who will provide an update on the surgery Wednesday morning.

    The Wagners, who have nine kids, are still waiting for a donor for their other daughter.

    Gary Levy, who runs the liver donor program at the Toronto General Hospital, said donors can give up to 70 per cent of their liver, which will regrow to its full size, but that a living donor can only donate once.

    Johanne Wagner said last week last week that she hasn't been tested yet because she needs to be there for the kids if something goes wrong with her husband's transplant surgery.

    "She's our reserve," Michael Wagner said during a recent interview with The Canadian Press at the family's home.

    "Part of it is that we knew we could only do one parent at a time and that I would have to recover before she went in."

    Levy said that interest in donating a liver has jumped because of the girls' story and he hopes to find a match for Binh soon.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Crown Says It Will Not Appeal Decision To Grant Guy Turcotte Bail Pending Trial

    Crown Says It Will Not Appeal Decision To Grant Guy Turcotte Bail Pending Trial
    MONTREAL — A former doctor charged with killing his children will remain free pending his trial as Quebec's Crown prosecutor's office said Monday it would not appeal the matter further.

    Crown Says It Will Not Appeal Decision To Grant Guy Turcotte Bail Pending Trial

    Canadians Must Work Harder To Prevent Young People From Becoming Radicalized: Ottawa Imam

    Canadians Must Work Harder To Prevent Young People From Becoming Radicalized:  Ottawa Imam
    Zijad Delic tells the Senate national security committee there is little talk of steering vulnerable people away from extremism.

    Canadians Must Work Harder To Prevent Young People From Becoming Radicalized: Ottawa Imam

    Couple Planted Pressure-cooker Bombs On B.C. Legislature, Crown Tells Trial

    Couple Planted Pressure-cooker Bombs On B.C. Legislature, Crown Tells Trial
    VANCOUVER — The Crown says two people on trial for terrorism charges built three pressure-cooker bombs and planted them on the grounds of the B.C. legislature on Canada Day.

    Couple Planted Pressure-cooker Bombs On B.C. Legislature, Crown Tells Trial

    No Sex-abuse Conspiracy Existed At Maple Leaf Gardens, Judge Rules

    No Sex-abuse Conspiracy Existed At Maple Leaf Gardens, Judge Rules
    TORONTO — The man at the centre of the Maple Leaf Gardens abuse scandal did not conspire with an alleged accomplice to lure boys into sex acts, an Ontario judge ruled Monday.

    No Sex-abuse Conspiracy Existed At Maple Leaf Gardens, Judge Rules

    Confusion Surrounds Veterans Benefits Report As Minister Tweets Details

    Confusion Surrounds Veterans Benefits Report As Minister Tweets Details
    OTTAWA — The new veterans minister is under fire for posting some details of a highly anticipated progress report on improving the treatment of ex-soldiers on Twitter and Facebook even before MPs and the wider veterans community had a chance to see it.

    Confusion Surrounds Veterans Benefits Report As Minister Tweets Details

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel To Visit Ottawa Next Week

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel To Visit Ottawa Next Week
    The Prime Minister's Office says the she will discuss a broad range of issues, including preparations for the upcoming G7 summit in Germany and the economic potential of the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel To Visit Ottawa Next Week