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Watch: Donor reunites with toddler she helped save through life-saving liver transplant

By Chris Williams
Published  November 13, 2024 1:27pm CST
Health
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Living donor reunites with boy she helped save

When one-year-old Sonny required a life-saving liver transplant, Sandy Flash, a woman from West New York, volunteered as a living donor at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. (Credit: Cleveland Clinic via Storyful)

The Brief

    • Sandy Flash donated part of her liver to one-year-old Sonny, who was diagnosed with biliary atresia, at the Cleveland Clinic in May 2023.
    • Flash’s donation came after her own husband’s liver transplant in 2022, and the two were later reunited after her recovery.
    • Sonny has since caught up in growth and development, with his mother praising the life-saving gift of organ donation.

A donor was reunited with a toddler she helped save. 

Sandy Flash, a woman from west New York, stepped forward when one-year-old Sonny needed a life-saving liver transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Sonny was diagnosed at birth with biliary atresia, which impaired kidney function, prompting the need for a transplant. 

Flash, whose husband underwent a liver transplant in 2022, decided to donate part of her liver, which ended up being a match for Sonny in May 2023.

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"Sandy gave a piece of herself to save my baby’s life. Organ donation is truly an unconditional gift," said Sonny’s mother, Katie White.

Once Flash recovered, she was thrilled to meet Sonny. 

"Next to having my own children, this is the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done," she said.

The clinic said Sonny has caught up in growth and development. 

The Source

  • Storyful contributed to this report. The information and video in this story was obtained from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. This story was reported from Los Angeles.