Jade Earaker and Ryan Bradford are desperately seeking a small bowel and liver transplant that could save their two-year-old son, Zachary Bradford. Zachary was born prematurely and received a liver transplant at 22 months old, which has failed. Now, he needs a second transplant, which must come from a child his size. Approximately 259 children are waiting for organ transplantation in the UK, with five waiting for more than one organ. NHS Blood and Transplant states that 40-50 paediatric organ donors donate each year, and around 200 children receive organ transplants.
Zachary’s parents are doing everything they can to increase his chances of a donor, including creating videos on TikTok to raise awareness about child organ donation. Zachary needs the transplant within the next few weeks to ensure he survives, with the parents hoping to make it to his third birthday in October. The family has tried to make as many memories as possible, such as going to Disney and getting married. They set short goals and aim to achieve them, such as Zachary’s birthday, their wedding, and Christmas.
Jade revealed that they are looking at weeks to months, but they are running out of time. If Zachary takes another septic hit or another infection, they will be looking at losing him. The Bradford family has no choice but to wait for a suitable donor. They urge parents to consider organ donation, which could save a child’s life and provide a great source of comfort among the donor family’s grief.
The Scottish government’s public health minister, Jenni Minto, said Zachary’s case highlights the need to increase the number of organ donors in Scotland. This month, Scotland will observe Organ and Tissue Donation Week, calling on people in Scotland to make their donation decision known and share it with their friends and family to make it easier for them to support their organ donation decisions. The conversation plays a crucial role in supporting organ donation decisions, especially among children, as they start learning about organ donation
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