Dad's dilemma

Dad's Dilemma: Twin Daughters
Both Needed Liver Transplant
The father of twin girls both in need of liver
transplants donated a portion of his liver to one of
the girls today.
Michael Wagner underwent surgery to remove a
portion of his liver that will then be used by
doctors to help save the life of one of his
daughters, Phuoc Wagner, 3.
Wagner's wife Johanne Wagner updated family and
friends on Facebook today, reporting that her
husband's liver was deemed good for transplant.
Wagner's twin girls Binh and Phuoc have a genetic
condition called Alagille syndrome, which can
cause liver damage. They both needed a liver
transplant to survive, but Wagner could only give
his liver to one child. Johanne Wagner told ABC
News in an earlier interview that doctors would
decide which of their daughters would receive the
liver based on their medical condition.
The two surgeries were expected to take 18 to 22
hours, according to a statement from the Hospital
for Sick Children, in Toronto, Canada.
In the hospital statement, the Wagner family
confirmed they were still searching for a donor
liver for Binh.
The twins were adopted in from Vietnam in 2012
by the Wagners, who were aware the girls’ livers
were in trouble during the adoption. The couple
also have seven other children.
“We knew they were very ill,” Johanne Wagner
said of the girls when they were first adopted.
“Those girls knocked on our doors and they were
supposed to be with us and it just took a different
path. As soon as we heard about them, we knew
they were they were part of our family.”
Last year, the girls’ condition worsened to the
point that they were put on a transplant list. While
the girls each need their own donor, the family
was delighted to find out that Michael Wagner was
a donor match.
Wagner could only donate tissue to one child
because of the way the liver regenerates.
“We found ourselves to be very lucky that we
qualified right away,” Johanne Wagner said of her
husband being a match. “[We’re] relieved but we
need one more donor.”
PHOTO: Binh and Phuoc.
The family has now turned to social media and
public outreach in the hope that a stranger could
be a match. On her website, Johanne Wagner said
the hospital had received over 280 submissions
from people offering to be a donor for Binh.
"Hopefully those courageous people who have
submitted their applications will elect to leave their
name there in order to help save others who are
on the list waiting for a liver, and are just as
important as my daughters," she wrote. "I hope
this media campaign is giving hope to the many
who are suffering in silence."
PHOTO: The father of Binh and Phuoc can only
donate to one child. The family is trying to find
another donor.
Wagner is directing anyone interested in becoming
a potential donor to the Toronto General Hospital
Living Donor Assessment Office to see if they fit
the profile.