Airman Gives Of Himself To Save Son
(August 4, 2010) |
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Mario and Genghis Webb play a game of "monster chase" in the backyard of the Ronald McDonald House July 20, 2010, in New Haven, Conn. The Webb family has been staying at the Ronald McDonald House following Genghis liver transplant surgery in April, when his father, Senior Airman Mario Webb, donated 20 percent of his liver to his son. Airman Webb is assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla. |
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. 7/30/2010 - AFNS) -- An Airman from
Hurlburt Field, Fla., donated a portion of his liver to help
save the life of a two-year-old boy.
Senior Airman Mario Webb, a ground radio maintainer from the
23rd Special Tactics Squadron, acted as a living donor to
give his son, Genghis, a liver transplant in April.
Airman Webb and Genghis are scheduled to be released in
early August to go home after a more than three-month stay
in the Ronald McDonald House here while they recuperated
from their surgeries.
In April, Genghis was diagnosed with Tyrosinemia, a genetic,
metabolic disorder that affects the liver and prevents the
body from properly breaking down proteins. If left
untreated, it can lead to developmental delays, cancer or
death. He was also diagnosed with cirrhosis, and cancerous
cells were found in his liver.
During his 18-month check up, Genghis' doctor discovered
that Genghis was only in the 30th percentile for growth in
his age group. He sent the Webbs to a civilian
gastrointestinal specialist in Pensacola, Fla., who
identified the problem in Genghis' liver.
"At first, Dr. Davis (the specialist in Pensacola) thought
it was rickets," said Julie Webb, Genghis' mother. "I was
really worried."
From there, he was referred to Yale-New Haven Medical
Center. After several tests, doctors confirmed Genghis
needed a liver transplant right away.
Air Force and Tricare officials ensured the Webb family,
including wife Julie and baby sister Zyla, had
transportation |
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to Connecticut and lodging accommodations once
they arrived for Genghis' appointment. |
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"Each of the three regional contractors maintains a network
of civilian healthcare providers," said Austin Camacho, the
chief of public affairs for the Tricare Management Activity.
"If the needed care is not available in (the) area, the
doctor may refer the beneficiary to an appropriate provider
outside the area. If an appropriate provider can't be found
within the network, the regional contractor will refer the
beneficiary to another Tricare authorized provider.
"When a family member is referred for medically-necessary,
non-emergent specialty care at a location more than 100
miles (one way) from the primary care manager, they may be
eligible to have 'reasonable travel expenses' reimbursed by
Tricare," he said. "Reasonable travel expenses are the
actual costs incurred while traveling, including meals, gas,
tolls, parking and tickets for public transportation."
After doctors identified that Genghis needed a transplant,
he was added to the donor list immediately.
According to www.thelivingbank.org, due to a continuous
shortage of donor livers and the high incidence of liver
disease, the waiting time is increasing every year. Hundreds
of people die each year while waiting for a cadaveric liver
to be offered.
In 2003, there were 5,670 liver transplants performed.
During that time period, 1,705 people died while waiting for
a transplant.
With odds like that, the Webbs decided to go with the
alternative -- a living donor.
Dr. Sukru Emre, the chief of transplantation and immunology
for the Yale University School of Medicine Department of
Surgery and the doctor who performed the transplant,
suggested the Webbs look into the living donor process.
A few days after all the necessary screenings and tests were
completed, Airman Webb was notified he was a match for
Genghis, and his son would be getting his much needed
transplant.
"It was probably about two weeks between the time they said
he needed an organ transplant to the time we it done,"
Airman Webb said. "It was a real quick turnaround."
Since the operation, both father and son have recuperated
well are expecting to be released in the beginning of August
to go back to their home in Florida.
"He is doing extremely well," Airman Webb said about
Genghis' progression.
Doctors expect Genghis to make a full recovery and live a
normal healthy life. | |
Article and photo by USAF SSgt. Mareshah Haynes
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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