Quadruple transplant teen on the mend
A B.C. teenager who underwent a quadruple organ transplant in Toronto in August is on the road to recovery.
Gairett MacIver, 18, of Prince Georgereceived a new stomach, bowel, liver and pancreas during the rare and risky 12-hour surgery. Doctors had warned his parents to prepare themselves for his death.
ButGairetttold CBC Radio on Thursday he is feeling better every day.
"You're slowly getting stronger and you realize 'I can make it through this,' and then as you keep pushing, you're ableto walk a little bit, eat a little bit, and you realize that you made it through it â¦," he said.
Gairett, whohas lost a lot of weight, saidhe's still feeling weak.
He is recovering in hospital in Toronto, buthis mother has been at his sidethroughout the ordeal.
"The fact that he's recovering so quickly and nicely, I think it's been really surprising the doctors â¦," said Lori MacIver, who is now looking ahead to the future for her son.
"I want him to start living thelife that a teenager should be living, and I just want to get back to home and start our normal life again,whatever normal is anymore."
There's no word when that might happen. In the meantime, the rest of the MacIver family is flyingto Torontoto spend a quiet Christmas with Gairett.