INTERNATIONAL ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS-AUSTRALIA - LITTLE TIANNA'S WAIT FOR LIFESAVING SURGERY

Source: Manly Daily News, Australia

Little Tiana Zilifian is in need of a liver transplant. Picture: ANNIKA ENDERBORG ~PP375342

LITTLE Tianna Zilifian’s beaming face looks like that of any happy, healthy child.

But her heartwarming smile belies a critically sick little girl who desperately needs a liver transplant to survive.

The four-year-old from Belrose suffers from biliary atresia, a rare liver disease that destroys the ducts that carry bile to the intestines.

While other children her age have spent the last two years playing on swing sets or learning to ride bikes, Tianna has been in and out of hospital. Despite extensive treatment, Tianna, who has a younger brother Anthony, has now been classed as ``high priority’’ on the transplant list.

On Thursday she was moved into Bear Cottage at Manly, a children’s hospice providing respite and palliative care to children with life-limiting illnesses.

She will remain there until an organ donor is found.

Tianna’s mother, Aleena, said her daughter was extremely brave in dealing with a condition that leaves her body bloated from the neck down.

``She is in good spirits most of the time but gets a bit down or bored if she is in hospital for long periods,’’ she said.

``She can’t do a lot of the gross motor activities like jumping or running as well as other kids so she has resorted to a lot of painting and playdough.

``She has learnt to cope over the years as best she can to keep herself busy but she is always lethargic and tired.’’

With this being Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week, Mrs Zilifian said she was hopeful a suitable donor would soon be found. ``It will just give Tianna so much energy to be able to do all of the things she hasn’t been able to over the last four years,’’ she said.``It will give her a second chance.’’

Mrs Zilifian urged people to listen to the central message of the awareness week. ``By one person being an organ donor they can save up to 10 lives,’’ she said.

More information can be found at http://www.donatelife or to record your decision to donate visit http://www.donorregister.gov.au or call 1800 777 203, or alternatively go to any Medicare office and pick up a brochure.