Vaughan family gets massive response to liver transplant appeal for baby

There’s been an overwhelming response so far to a Vaughan family’s public appeal for a live liver donor for their eight-month-old baby.

Delfina Budziak has a rare congenital liver disease called Biliary Atresia and this week, her parents launched a social media campaign to find a living donor.

More than 900 people from across Canada, United States, England, Sweden, as well as Canadian Forces members, have reached out through e-mail and Facebook about being a potential liver donor.

As 680 NEWS first brought you the story on Wednesday, Delfina has been at the Hospital for Sick Children for a month, after suffering cholangitis — liver infection — the day after her baptism in April.

Her father, Peter Budziak, said Delfina won’t be able to leave hospital until she gets a liver donation.

Budziak said the response to the donor campaign has been incredible.

“People can be pretty amazing when given the chance. This is just a prime example of that,” he told 680 NEWS on Friday.

The family has also asked people to sign up as a living liver donor for other children, including six-month-old Naomi Rankin who is from British Columbia but in an Edmonton hospital, and Allexis Siebrecht, 11, from Winnipeg.

“It would be incredible if we could help out any other kid. We’ve met so many amazing kids and families at Sick Kids that could all use the attention and could all use the help,” Budziak said.

Budziak said once things settle down and his daughter is finally out of the hospital, his family will be pushing for a national live donor list.

A liver donor has yet to be confirmed for Delfina, but Toronto General is still processing all of the applications.

Delfina requires an O-positive blood match from a healthy person between 18 to 50 years old. Those interested in trying to help should contact Toronto General Hospital.

Click here to read more about her family’s campaign, or e-mail HelpDelfina@gmail.com on how you can help.

Click here to read more information about the living donor program at the University Health Network.

With files from Charlene Close

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