Pediatric nurse donates part of her liver to save a baby patient’s life

A pediatric nurse went above and beyond for a patient in her hospital, donating part of her own liver to save the young child’s life. 

Sarah Harris, a pediatric nurse at St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center in Meridian, Idaho, met Cole Carter when he was just two months old and in desperate need of a liver transplant — which, after learning she was a match, she knew she could provide.

‘He had to have a donation to survive and it felt right. I think anybody would have done it,’ Sarah told St. Luke’s Children’s in a blog post. 

Hero: Sarah Harris (pictured), a pediatric nurse at St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center in Meridian, Idaho, offered to donate her liver to a child at her hospital

Fighter: Cole Carter was diagnosed with biliary artesia when he was two months old. The disease caused problems to Cole's liver because his bile ducts were scarred

Fighter: Cole Carter was diagnosed with biliary artesia when he was two months old. The disease caused problems to Cole’s liver because his bile ducts were scarred

Stressful times: Cole's parents, Jessica and Josh Carter, were not matches for the child. He desperately needed a new liver and Sarah offered to donate part of hers

Stressful times: Cole’s parents, Jessica and Josh Carter, were not matches for the child. He desperately needed a new liver and Sarah offered to donate part of hers 

The child was diagnosed with biliary artesia, a rare disease in babies where the bile ducts both inside and outside the liver are scarred and blocked. Bile is unable to flow into the intestine, so it instead builds up in the liver and causes damage, according the NIH.  

Neither of his parents, Jessica and Josh Carter, were matches for their child — and his condition was only getting worse through the months after his birth. 

‘[His mother] was upset, and I don’t blame her. That’s her child. It was hard to see. She didn’t know if she’d have another donor,’ Sarah said. 

So when Sarah discovered she had the same blood type as the child, she thought she could be a match for him and donate her own liver. 

‘Seeing the worry on his mom’s face that they weren’t going to be able to find a donor I thought, our kids are grown and I’m healthy. I could do this,’ she said. ‘He deserves to live. He deserves a chance and without a donation he doesn’t have one.’

Before making the decision, Sarah spoke to the doctor on the case and inquired about what it would take to become a live donor for Cole. 

Dr. Tyler Burpee explained they would just need a portion of Sarah’s liver and vessels to be transplanted into Cole, and her liver would then rejuvenate itself to its original size during recovery. 

This convinced Sarah to scribble down her name and phone number on a sticky note for Jessica to let the family know she was willing to be a live donor for the child if she was a match.   

His battle: Sarah donated part of her liver when Cole was just seven months old. She recovered quickly from the surgery but he stayed in the hospital for four months

His battle: Sarah donated part of her liver when Cole was just seven months old. She recovered quickly from the surgery but he stayed in the hospital for four months 

Pushing on: 'We were in the ICU for almost an entire month,' Jessica (left) said about the recovery period. 'We lived in Seattle for four months total'

Pushing on: ‘We were in the ICU for almost an entire month,’ Jessica (left) said about the recovery period. ‘We lived in Seattle for four months total’

His savior: The parents were astounded a total stranger would want to donate part of her liver to save Cole's life

Incredible: But she did and it changed Cole's life

His savior: The parents were astounded a total stranger would want to donate part of her liver to save Cole’s life, but she did and it changed Cole’s life (pictured with his parents)   

Close friends: The family is now back in Meridian since Cole has recovered

Sweet: Sarah remains close with the family and will often visit them with her husband

Close friends: The family is now back in Meridian since Cole has recovered. Sarah remains close with the family and will often visit them with her husband 

‘I thought this lady was crazy. Who is this woman that we’ve never met before, who met Cole, falls in love with him instantly, and says, “Oh yeah, please take half of my organ,”‘ Josh told KTVB about the offer. 

Tests revealed Sarah was a match, and it was decided the child would have the transplant at seven months old in Seattle, Washington — where the family was living to monitor Cole’s condition. 

The surgery lasted for 14 hours where Sarah came out and recovered quickly. But Cole had a bumpier journey attempting to recover from the transplant.  

‘We were in the ICU for almost an entire month,’ Jessica said. ‘We lived in Seattle for four months total.’

This challenging time in the family’s life encouraged them to start a Facebook page called Cole’s Liver Adventures to keep people updated on the child’s progress. They also wanted to share the story of Sarah and how she helped the family. 

‘It also became a place for me to really process actually what had happened,’ Jessica said. ‘Such kind people, like really kind loving people. Seeing the messages of encouragement and love and prayer, it really made this whole journey possible.’

Big milestones: Cole recently celebrated his first birthday and walked for the first time

Big milestones: Cole recently celebrated his first birthday and walked for the first time 

Adorable: His parents keep people updated on Facebook. They also hope it will encourage other people to donate their organs

Adorable: His parents keep people updated on Facebook. They also hope it will encourage other people to donate their organs 

Cole is currently back in Meridian with his family and has recovered from his transplant surgery. The family remains close with Sarah and her husband, who both come over to visit with Cole when they are free. 

The child also recently celebrated his first birthday with Sarah in attendance, and he walked for the first time in September.  

His family expressed gratitude and excitement for Sarah on Facebook that she was gaining recognition for the selfless donation she made to the family. 

‘I will never get over hearing the story of how she saved Cole’s life. It’s like living it again, only better, because I know that her sacrifice saves him. There might be some other awesome opportunities to share Cole and Sarah’s story coming up and it is just so exciting,’ the post read. 

It went on to implore people to consider becoming organ donors if they are able to so they can also save people like Cole who are in similar health situations.  

‘There is the vast majority of children, parents, friends all waiting on an organ that will never have a Sarah to save the day. Someone instead will lose their life but can save someone’s. Most people waiting for a life saving organ transplant need an organ donor to survive. So please talk to your loved ones, share your wishes to be an organ donor and sign up.’  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk