Father’s living liver donation keeps son alive
One-year-old Benjamin Carsten was diagnosed with OTC deficiency as a newborn.
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It’s a special Father’s Day for a Port Washington family. Eighteen-month-old Benjamin Carstens was just a few days old when he was diagnosed with OTC deficiency--a rare metabolic disorder that can lead to liver failure.
“We were completely destroyed,” said Brian Carstens, Benjamin’s dad. “I mean, we were very worried we weren't going to have him with us.”
“The surgical procedure for children with metabolic disease can be some of the most technically challenging because they're done when they're very small,” said Dr. Adam Griesemer, the surgical director of pediatric liver transplants at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.
Benjamin spent a lot of time in the hospital during his first year of life. It was a small miracle when his dad found out he could be a living donor.
In August, on his birthday, Brian underwent surgery, giving part of his liver to his son.
“I don't think there was any hesitation when he heard that he could do something to help save his son,” said Dr. Jennifer Vittorio, Benjamin's pediatric hepatologist and medical director of Pediatric Liver Transplant.
“It’s completely surreal,” Brian Carstens said. “We really didn't think that he would be with us after the initial crises, and we're blessed. We feel blessed every single day that we have him.”
Today, both father and son are nine months post-transplant, happy and healthy, and able to celebrate another Father’s Day together as a family.
