Quadruple organ transplant recipient getting stronger

A teenager from northern British Columbiaismaking a remarkable recovery after undergoing quadruple organ transplant surgery at Toronto General Hospital this summer, says his family.

Gairett MacIver received a new stomach, bowel, liver and pancreas during the rare 12-hour surgery on Aug. 1, andhis parents were warned to prepare themselves for his death.

But his father said recently thatthe 18-year-old is now able to eat, is getting around with help and isundergoing physiotherapy to rebuild his muscles after more than three months in a hospital bed.

The Prince George teen had required the surgery because blood vessels in his bowels were not only bleeding, but also damaging other organs, leading to a series of broken legs in 2001.

Bill MacIver told CBC News that he and his wife Lori spent Thanksgiving with their sonat the hospital, calling it a "very exciting day."

MacIver said all four transplanted organs show no signs of rejection. However, he notes his sonhaslost a lot of weight, and now weighs just over 100 pounds.

'Bumpy' road ahead

He said Gairett'slaps of the hospital hallways with his walker are celebrated as marathons by his mother.

"He walks around the floor and Lori calls it the Gairett Marathon, andthis day he did two laps of the ward."

MacIver said his son's medical progress is "quite good" butadded that the whole family is taking things one day at a time: "It's not a smooth straight road; it's a really bumpy one."

MacIver said he hopes Gairett will make it home to Prince George by Christmas.