First Pediatric Liver Transplant Performed At Children's Hospital Of Michigan

DETROIT (WWJ) - A 15-year old Troy teen has a second chance at life after being the first liver recipient at the Children's Hospital of Michigan through a newly expanded collaboration with Henry Ford Hospital.

Jaylin Daniels is recovering at home after his April 11 discharge. He was diagnosed at 7 months with cystic fibrosis, cirrhosis of the liver. Then at age 11, he was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis, an inherited disorder characterized by multiple benign growths in the colon.

"I have three diseases, and I've grown up with cystic fibrosis, and I've gone through a lot of things," Jaylin told WWJ's Ron Dewey and other reporters on Wednesday. "Especially when we found out about the liver disease; that we probably my most painful experience."

The March 30 transplant was led by David A. Bruno, M.D., surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program on staff at the Children's Hospital of Michigan and senior staff surgeon at the Henry Ford Transplant Institute.

"Jaylin's surgery went extremely well, and our highly skilled team worked together seamlessly," Bruno said in a statement. "Jaylin also has great family support, which is very important for his continued recovery. We're very pleased."

Jaylin's mom, Sylvia Dewan says it means her son can ride a bike or play with his cousins and live as close to a normal life as he can.

She said the journey has been a long one, but her prayers have been answered.

"I prayed long ago when Jaylin was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis that God would make him a fighter," Dewan said in a statement. "Jaylin is a fighter, which has helped him overcome medical obstacles. The process has been an emotional, bittersweet rollercoaster because Jaylin has been given a new lease on life due to a deceased donor. We are so thankful to the donor and family, doctors, nurses and staff at the Children's Hospital of Michigan. They saved my son's life and we will forever be grateful."

Dean Kim, M.D., chief of transplant, Children's Hospital of Michigan and surgical director of kidney and pancreas transplantation at the Henry Ford Transplant Institute, helped forge the new pediatric transplant collaboration between the two institutions.

Relying on the long-standing pediatric expertise at the Children's Hospital of Michigan, the new collaboration now offers metro Detroit's only pediatric kidney transplant program and pediatric heart transplant program under the direction of Celeste Williams, M.D., medical director of Henry Ford Transplant Institute's Heart Transplant Program to also serve as medical director for Children's Hospital of Michigan's pediatric heart transplant program.

"This collaboration merges fantastic medical expertise and advanced technologies for the benefit of the youngest patients in southeast Michigan," Kim said in a statement. "It's a win-win for everyone."