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An Aiea girl who underwent successful liver transplant surgery a month ago is back in the Stanford University hospital recovering from pneumonia. Aiea girl back
in hospital after
liver transplantBy Mary Adamski
Star-BulletinThree-year-old Sesilia Tatofi was returned to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Sunday suffering from breathing difficulty and dehydration.
She is being treated with antibiotics and is "doing really well," said hospital spokeswoman Bettylu Smith. Sesilia may be released today, she said.
The child received one-third of her mother's liver in an Aug. 9 transplant surgery at the Palo Alto hospital. She was born with biliary atresia, blocking of ducts that carry bile from the liver to the intestine, and had bypass surgery when she was two months old.
A family member said there has been an outpouring of aloha and support for Sesilia and her parents, Feliuaki "Fetcho," a city bus driver, and Leilani, a Polynesian dancer with Tihati Productions.
Sam Tatofi, a minister with the Free Tonga Church in Kahaluu, said: "A lot of people are telling us they are praying for her. Some people at the church have been fasting as a sacrifice for the baby."
William Haig, customer services manager with Oahu Transit Services, said employees of TheBus have contributed about 80 days of their vacation leave to "Fetcho" Tatofi so he can afford to remain with his daughter and wife.
In addition to the paid leave, which has a value of about $11,000, a fund-raising committee of family, friends and co-workers have collected more than $30,000 to help meet living expenses.
Haig said most of the medical costs will be covered by Kaiser Permanente but the family's rent and living expenses are high.
The Friends of Sesilia raised $14,000 at an Aug. 19 Waikiki Shell concert by several local musical groups including Kapena, of which Sesilia's uncles Tivaini and Timo Tatofi are members.
Unity House and Teamster union members donated $10,000.
The parents of 5-year-old Alyshia Shimizu of Wahiawa contributed $2,000. Alyshia is recovering from a life-threatening infection.
The committee continues to receive donations at TheBus' Kalihi headquarters. Checks may be sent to Friends of Sesilia, 811 Middle St., Honolulu 96819.