ZoÂ’s Fund for Life: 3-Year-Old Receives Liver Transplant

NBA Heat News
ZoÂ's Fund for Life Continues Fundraising for 3-Year-Old who Receives Liver Transplant
Omar Ferguson in Critical Care after Receiving Priority Liver Transplant Over the Weekend

Alonzo Mourning, NBA All-Star and Founder of ZoÂ's Fund For Life, an organization Mourning launched shortly after he learned he would need an organ transplant, has been leading a campaign to quickly raise funds for a three-year-old boy named Omar Ferguson who was in desperate need of a liver transplant. OmarÂ's health began deteriorating rapidly last week and he was put on life support with only one effective treatment option: a liver transplant.

ZoÂ's Fund for Life raised the initial funds needed in order to place Omar on the transplant waiting list and doctors at the Holtz ChildrenÂ's Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus in Miami, Florida quickly moved Omar to priority status. A donor liver became available on Saturday, December 13, 2008 and was flown in from California to Miami where doctors immediately performed a successful transplantation on little Omar who was clinging to life.

Just over 48 hours since the transplant surgery, Omar remains in intensive care and is being closely monitored by the pediatric transplant team. Â"The new liver is functioning well and has allowed Omar to be disconnected from the hemodialysis machine,Â" said Andreas G. Tzakis, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Liver/GI Transplant Surgery, Director of the Miami Transplant Institute, and Professor of Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and Miami Transplant Institute. Â"He is still in critical condition but is making a very steady progress. The next few days will be very decisive for his outcome.Â"
______________________________________________________ 
"You have the power to SAVE lives." 
To register as a donor TODAY
In California: 
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org 
Outside California: 
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net

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