A three-year-old boy named Bogdan from Shepetivka was rescued at the Kyiv medical center "Ohmatdyt", where he was diagnosed with a serious congenital condition – the absence of bile ducts.

The only solution was a liver transplant, which was successfully performed using an organ donated by his father.

From the very first days of his life, his parents noticed an unnatural yellow tint to his skin. Doctors at the local maternity hospital assured them that it was physiological jaundice that would pass. However, even after three months, the issue persisted.

After a visit to the cardio center in Kyiv, where the child was examined for a congenital heart defect, doctors suspected another cause for the jaundice and admitted the boy to "Ohmatdyt".

Medical staff immediately noted the characteristic "greenish" jaundice and pale stool, classic signs of biliary atresia.

The boy underwent emergency surgery, followed by preparations for a liver transplant.

"The child had a dual complex pathology: both liver and heart issues. We consulted extensively with the doctors at the cardio center to decide how to proceed, as each option carried significant risks. Ultimately, we decided to perform the liver transplant first, followed by cardiac surgery," explained transplant surgeon Oleg Hodyk.

During his first year, the boy spent most of his time in the infectious disease unit for younger children, where a medical team focused on nutrition, stabilizing his condition, and reducing toxicity. Gradually, he prepared for the transplant, which took almost three years.

"Bogdan effectively grew up in our unit. There were constant hospitalizations. We did everything we could to ensure he reached this stage in the most stable condition possible," shared pediatrician Yuliya Tkachenko.

In the last year, the situation became more complicated: the child started experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding, which worsened over time. A critical incident occurred when he fell into a coma due to the flu, yet he was saved.

Afterward, preparations for the transplant continued. The donor was the boy's father, Oleksandr. Initially anxious, he gathered his nerves before the operation, stating, "This is for my child – I can do it."

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of anesthesiologists, surgeons, geneticists, pediatricians, and nurses, the boy was successfully prepared for the transplant and underwent a surgery lasting over 13 hours.

Just a month later, his parents reported noticeable changes.

"Before the transplant, he hardly reacted. Now he eats cookies, plays with toys, runs around, and interacts more easily with new people. We see progress, and that's the most important thing," shared his mother Maria.

A long rehabilitation period, monitoring, and heart surgery lie ahead.

"But the most important thing is that he has been given a chance at life," concluded the medical facility.