Ocean Sintos, much like other toddlers, enjoys playing with his toy trucks alongside his big sister. He not only embodies his name but also exudes a significant personality, described affectionately by his mother, Angela Capillan, as somewhat bossy. Since his birth nearly two years ago, Ocean has displayed remarkable strength and resilience.
About three days after Ocean’s birth, Angela noticed that he appeared jaundiced, with a yellowish hue that seemed unusual. Concerned, she promptly contacted the pediatrician, expressing her worries about Ocean’s health. Additionally, Ocean exhibited symptoms such as a swollen belly and light-colored stools, all indicative of a rare liver condition known as biliary atresia, where the bile ducts become obstructed. If left untreated through surgery, this condition can be life-threatening.
Biliary atresia stands as a leading cause for pediatric liver transplants. To advance the understanding and treatment of this condition, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and the Biliary Atresia Research and Education (BARE) organization are hosting a two-day symposium aimed at driving significant progress in this field.
Upon receiving Ocean’s diagnosis, Angela was overcome with emotion, knowing that his life would be far from conventional. Instead of the typical newborn experiences, Ocean had to undergo surgery at just two months old, as the initial treatment, known as the Kasai procedure, proved ineffective, necessitating a liver transplant.
Transformative Outreach Program for Ocean
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health spearheads an outreach program that operates in 11 hospitals across six states, including California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. In 2023, Stanford Children’s provided care to all pediatric transplant patients from Hawaii through this outreach initiative.
Dr. [Doctor’s Name], a pediatric transplant hepatologist, emphasizes the importance of reducing liver transplant disparities for children living far from transplant centers. The program ensures that patients receive initial care closer to home before transitioning to Stanford for specialized treatment. Even after the transplant, follow-up care is provided in the patients’ home states, fostering a supportive and familial bond.
When Dr. Ebel encountered Ocean in Hawaii, the young patient had already spent five months on the transplant waiting list. Struggling with progressive liver disease and cirrhosis, Ocean’s malnourished state underscored the urgency of his situation, prompting his transfer to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford for pre-transplant care.
On May 3, 2023, Angela, her husband, and their children embarked on a journey to California, hopeful for a life-saving liver transplant for Ocean.
Embracing the Gift of Life
The days leading up to their departure from Hawaii were emotionally challenging for Angela, who found solace solely in her family’s support. However, a week later, a pivotal call came through— a suitable donor had been found for Ocean just in time.
Describing Ocean’s critical condition, [Doctor’s Name], a pediatric transplant surgeon, highlights the urgency of the situation. With limited pediatric donors available, the team seized the opportunity to utilize a segment of an adult donor’s liver to save Ocean’s life through a segmental liver transplant.
Dr. Esquivel explains the significance of split liver transplants in expanding the donor pool and offering multiple patients a chance at life. Despite its technical complexity, the split liver approach has yielded excellent long-term outcomes comparable to full-size liver transplants.
Thriving Post-Transplant
Back in Hawaii, Ocean is showing promising progress post-transplant. Celebrating his first Christmas with his new liver at home, Ocean continues to undergo regular check-ups, overseen by [Doctor’s Name] from Stanford Children’s, who ensures his well-being and monitors any signs of liver rejection.
Angela remains deeply grateful to the donor whose selfless act saved her son’s life. She advocates for organ donation, emphasizing its life-saving impact, particularly for young children like Ocean, who now have the opportunity to live, learn, and grow, thanks to the generosity of donors.