WINNIPEG — Shooting darts into a garbage can is how 11-year old Allexis Siebrecht passes time.
Hooked up to monitors and oxygen, Allexis is improving every day after getting a liver transplant a week ago.
“She’s happy she has her new liver and she’s looking forward to getting a new skateboard,” her mother Liz Siebrecht said from Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital Tuesday.
Her lengthy recovery is the last thing on her mind.
“She’s more concerned about the well being of her fish,” laughed Liz.
In a 30 second video her mother recorded in the hospital, Allexis looks at the camera and says, “Hi, got my liver transplant,” as she points to the scar on her stomach, “Does not hurt, don’t worry.”
Her doctor says the eight hour surgery was a success.
“The liver seems to be doing everything we need it to do right now and it’s functioning very well,” Dr. Binita Kamath said.
Liz says it was tough to wait while Allexis was in surgery but is relieved it’s over.
“The first thing she said was, ‘I need a big glass of water and I need my mom.'”
Allexis was born with a liver disease and early this year was told she needed a liver transplant.
In late March, Allexis captivated Winnipegger’s hearts, pleading for donors to come forward.
“So I can be healthy and my yellowness will go away,” Allexis told Global News in March.
Dozens of people offered to be donors but there was no match found, until a week ago.
“I want to acknowledge the donor at the same time words can’t express what I’m feeling,” an emotional Liz said.
The deceased donor’s family wishes to remain anonymous but thanks to their generosity, Allexis no longer looks jaundiced. She will remain in Toronto for another week, and once she returns home she’ll be closely monitored.
And when she’s ready, a new skateboard will be waiting for her, donated by a complete stranger.
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