2-year-old celebrates anniversary of lifesaving transplant

Feb 14, 2024, 5:19pmUpdated on Feb 14, 2024 By: Marisa Marcellino and Adolfo Carrion

Wednesday wasn’t just Valentine’s Day, it’s also National Donor Day, and one lucky girl is celebrating the anniversary of her lifesaving surgery.

A 2-year-old named Aaliyah underwent a lifesaving liver transplant last year after being connected to a donor. Her family struggled for five months waiting for a donor on the transplant list as Aaliyah fought end-stage liver disease.

“I knew she was going to live a life because I thought she would never make it,” said Oluwatosin Adarabioyo, Aaliyah’s mother. “She's beautiful, she's happy, she's loving, everyday she's always telling us I love you because she knew what we went through."

The Adarabioyo family was visiting from Nigeria when the pain became unbearable for their daughter. They took Aaliyah to the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center who helped bring her the transplant she needed.

“She will become a normal adult and that's really a life saving procedure, not only the life but the quality of life everything, she will have a full normal life,” said Dr. Dominique Jan, director of pediatric transplantation surgery at the children’s hospital.