Key facts
- Gary Jackson donated part of his liver and bowel to his six-year-old son, Harry.
- The transplant was performed at King's College Hospital in London.
- Harry was born with malrotation and developed complications including volvulus and liver disease.
- Gary Jackson was a 98% HLA match for his son.
- The father lost six stone and adhered to a strict diet to be eligible for donation.
- The surgery lasted 17 hours.
Gary Jackson has donated portions of his liver and bowel to his six-year-old son, Harry, in what is described as an extremely rare transplant procedure. Harry was born with malrotation, a congenital abnormality of the bowel, which led to complications like volvulus and intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD).
Faced with limited options, Harry's parents, Annie and Gary, underwent tests to see if they were a match for their son. Following extensive assessments, Gary Jackson was confirmed to be a 98% human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match. To be eligible for donation, Mr. Jackson undertook a rigorous preparation, including losing six stone, adhering to a strict diet, and abstaining from alcohol.
The 17-hour operation took place at King's College Hospital in London. Mr. Jackson described the experience as the "greatest privilege" of his life, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to save his son's life and give him a second chance. His recovery took approximately six weeks. This type of combined liver and bowel transplant is believed to have been performed on only around 10 children worldwide.