CANADA: Living Liver Donor Sends Toddler Home After Months In ICU, Spotlighting 500+ Waiting In Alberta

Live liver Donation Saves toddler With Rare Genetic Condition After Months In ICU

WORLD NEWS – CANADA: A toddler named Colby, born with a rare genetic condition that severely damaged his liver, has returned home and is recovering after a living-donor liver transplant that followed months in an intensive care unit. The operation last year reversed a life-threatening decline and allowed the child to leave hospital care for the first time in months.

The donor was family friend Amy Hasson, who learned she was a medical match shortly after Colby was listed for transplantation. Hasson initiated testing as soon as she heard about the listing and proceeded through evaluation that led to a living liver donation. The transplantation restored liver function and has given Colby renewed prospects for growth and development.

The case highlights persistent demand for organs in Alberta, where more than 500 people remain on transplant waiting lists. In 2025 the province recorded 75 living donors, underscoring both the lifesaving role of living donation and the ongoing gap between need and supply for organ and tissue transplantation.

Medical teams and families involved say the success illustrates how living donation can change a child’s trajectory. Those moved to help are encouraged to seek testing and information from transplant programs, where eligibility and timelines are assessed, because a single living donor can be transformative for pediatric patients facing severe liver failure.

Video originally published on 2026-04-17 12:06:46