Liver Transplant Patient and Family Resources

Learning your child needs liver transplant surgery can be scary for you and your whole family.

The Liver Transplant team at Children’s hopes to ease the concerns of our liver transplant patients and their loved ones.

If your child is having a liver transplant — or if you just want to learn about this treatment option — we hope these resources will help answer your questions and give you some peace of mind:

• Liver Transplant FAQ — find answers to common questions about liver transplant benefits, wait times for donor livers, and more.
• Camp Chihopi — join other kids, ages 7-15, who have received liver transplants for this fun, summer camping event.

Helping You and Your Child Understand Liver Transplant

Reading these stories and hearing from other children who have had liver transplants can help you know what to expect before, during, and after liver transplant surgery:

• Hector's Liver Transplant Story
• Life Gets Busy for Cody and Nate: A Story About Life After Liver Transplant
• Taylor's Liver Biopsy
• "Dr. Lizzie" Learns about Alagille's Syndrome
• Interview with a 15-Year-Old Liver Transplant Patient

Liver Transplant Safety Tips and Best Practices

A healthy recovery after your child's liver transplant extends well beyond the hospital stay.

See these tips to help care for your child's health and emotional needs once he or she goes home after a liver transplant:

• Avoiding Infection After Liver Transplant — read about how to deal with a fever, when to use acetaminophen or aspirin, and what causes post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).
• Hand Washing for Liver Transplant Patients and Caregivers — learn the best way to wash your hands and help prevent infection.
• Food Safety for Liver Transplant Patients — learn how to cook foods fully, clean food prep areas, and other ways to control the risk of foodborne illnesses in liver transplant patients.
• Travel Tips After Liver Transplant — read about managing your child's post-liver transplant drugs, avoiding infections, and other safe travel tips.
• Drawing Up Medications From a Vial — find out what supplies you'll need and how to draw up your child's liver transplant drugs from a vial.
• Flushing Your Catheter — learn about the supplies you'll need and how to flush a catheter.