A REMARKABLE little boy who confounded medical science by undergoing one of the smallest-ever liver transplants is preparing to celebrate his second birthday.

Tiny Alexander Barker fought back from the brink of death after contracting liver failure at just two months old.

His distraught parents, Deborah and Ian, were told that Alexander would need a transplant but it would probably be too late before a suitable donor was found.

In a last-ditch bid to save him, surgeons decided to cut a tiny piece of liver from the body of an 18-month-old child and transfer it to Alexander.

The surgery was the smallest ever "cut-down" liver transplant performed at the specialist Children's Hospital in Birmingham.

And almost two years on the success of the life-or-death operation is evident on Alexander's beaming face and he is now looking forward to his second birthday party on Friday.

The tot, of Rutland Avenue, Burnley, who will be on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life, has startled doctors with his recovery.

His mum said: "The doctors said he would not make it and that a suitable donor for transplant would not come in time.

"But he has defied the odds and since the operation he has been great."

Alexander's heart-warming recovery comes at the start of National Children's Liver Week.

He was born at Burnley General Hospital, but was soon transferred to Booth Hall in Manchester and on to Birmingham.

Early symptoms of his liver failure were jaundice, refusal of food and a low temperature.

He was lucky that the disease was spotted early. Others are not so fortunate and campaigners are keen to raise awareness of the illness.

The Children's Liver Disease Foundation has been researching the illness for 15 years.

For more details contact the foundation at 138 Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DR, or on 0121 643 7282.

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