At the "Okhmatdyt" medical facility, doctors successfully rescued a three-year-old boy named Bohdan from Shepetivka, who suffered from a severe congenital condition – he was born without bile ducts.

The only way to save the child was through a liver transplantation. The organ was donated by his biological father, as reported by "Okhmatdyt".

From his earliest days, Bohdan's parents noticed that their son had an unnatural yellow tint to his skin. Local hospital staff assured them that it was physiological jaundice that would resolve over time. However, three months later, the issue persisted.

Following a visit to a cardio center in Kyiv, where the child was examined for a congenital heart defect, doctors suspected a different cause for his jaundice and promptly admitted him to "Okhmatdyt".

Doctors immediately observed the characteristic "greenish" jaundice and pale stool – classic signs of biliary atresia, meaning the absence of bile ducts.

The boy underwent urgent surgery and preparations for a liver transplant began immediately thereafter.

"The child had a complex dual pathology: both liver and heart issues. We consulted extensively with the cardiology team to determine how to proceed, as the risks were high in each scenario. Ultimately, we decided to proceed with the liver transplantation first, followed by cardiac surgery," explained transplant surgeon Oleg Hodyk.

During his first year, Bohdan effectively lived in an infectious disease ward for younger children. Here, the medical team focused on his nutrition, stabilizing his condition, and reducing toxicity. He took small steps toward the transplantation, which they waited for nearly three years.

"Bohdan practically grew up in our department. There were constant hospitalizations. We did everything possible to ensure he reached this stage in the most stable condition," said pediatrician Yuliya Tkachenko.

Over the past year, the situation worsened: the child began to experience gastrointestinal bleeding, which became increasingly severe. The most critical incident occurred during a flu episode, leading him to fall into a coma, but he was saved.

After this, lengthy preparations for the transplant continued. The donor was Bohdan's father, Oleksandr. Initially, he was very anxious, but before the operation, he gathered his courage and said: "This is for my child – I can do it."

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of anesthesiologists, geneticists, hepatologists, pediatricians, surgeons, nurses, and other specialists, the boy was successfully prepared for transplantation, and the operation lasted over 13 hours.

Only a month has passed, but according to the parents, the changes are already noticeable.

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

Ahead of him lies a long period of rehabilitation, monitoring, and a heart surgery.

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