Mum saves son's life by donating part of her liver to treat rare condition.

Teddy Nicholls has already been through two life-saving transplants. At just 21 months old, Teddy was born with a rare inherited condition known as neonatal hemochromatosis, which can cause liver failure and be fatal without treatment. His mother, Emma Nicholls, was determined to give Teddy the chance to live a normal life.

In April 2022, Teddy was only 10 weeks old when he underwent his first transplant with a donor who had died. For the second procedure, Teddy's mother Emma was able to donate part of her liver. To make it work, surgeons used a hitch-vein monosegment liver transplant technique, reducing the donated liver to match the size of Teddy’s body.

Mrs Nicholls had originally been unable to donate to Teddy the first time because it was too soon after she had given birth. “I knew I wanted to do everything possible to help my son,” she said. “And as a family we were so thankful to the donor and their family who saved Teddy’s life with his first transplant that I had no doubts about stepping in when needed.”

After three weeks, Teddy and Emma were able to return home to Cambridgeshire in time for Christmas with father Greg Nicholls, brother Theo Nicholls, and the rest of the family. Mrs Nicholls expressed her gratitude for the team at King’s College Hospital, saying “I am incredibly grateful to the whole hospital team from the theatres to the wards where we stayed. Being home and reunited as a family in time for Christmas makes us feel so lucky and grateful to everyone at King’s College Hospital.”

Dr Hector Vilca Melendez, consultant transplant surgeon at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’m delighted to see Teddy and Emma doing so well, and thanks to his mother’s donation, Teddy has the opportunity to develop as would be normal for any child. Seeing Teddy grow from first meeting soon after birth when he was seriously unwell, to now that he’s a happy and vibrant 21 month-old, is a wonderful tribute to the importance of organ donation and the fantastic work of our team at King’s.”

The story of Teddy Nicholls and his mother Emma is one of courage and determination. With her donation, Emma gave her son a chance to live the life he deserves. It is a reminder of the power of organ donation, and the life-saving possibilities it can offer.

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