COURTESY PHOTO
Doctors say 11-month-old Landon Ceno- Montira has less than six months to live if he does not receive a liver transplant.
Infant’s family awaits Landon Ceno-Montira started life with two strikes against him. Born two months premature, the Waianae boy weighed 3 pounds, 7 ounces.
vital liver transplant
The boy's illness and medical
costs tear at the Ceno-MontirasBy Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.comThen Landon was diagnosed with biliary atresia; his liver was unable to excrete bile to break down fatty foods.
Now 11 months old and weighing 12 pounds, Landon waits for a liver with his mother, Leialoha, in Palo Alto, Calif., at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University Medical Center, which has an expert liver transplant team.
Pediatric gastroenterologist Ken Nagamori said the boy has less than six months to live without a transplant. With it he can live indefinitely.
"It's the ultimate fear for a parent, the child being sick and you being unable to do anything," said father Larry Montira.
Pediatric transplants are not performed in Hawaii.
In May, Landon had surgery to hook up his liver directly to the bowels, a temporary fix that often leads to infection.
"It's been just nine months since the diagnosis, in and out of the hospital," Montira said. "It's been an emotional roller-coaster ride. You feel so helpless."
The operation Landon needs could be done with a third or a quarter of an adult liver, but the procedure is risky for the donor. Montira was ruled out because his blood type is different, and his wife's liver and kidneys are damaged. Other relatives did not qualify.
Landon and his mother flew Feb. 20 to California to wait for a donor liver to become available. The average wait for a liver is three to six months.
Montira stayed behind to care for their two daughters, ages 2 and 3.
"My wife says she wishes we were there," he said. "It would be easier if we were together to support each other, but financially we can't."
The family is financially strapped since Montira and his wife could not work because they had to care for Landon: There are frequent doctor and hospital visits and the constant care to administer medication.
The family struggles on welfare. Montira has also tried raising funds, but with little success.
"They're really trying their best," said Dr. Cristeta Ancog, Landon's pediatrician.
Montira says he wants to be there for the surgery but does not know if they can afford the plane fare.
"He's going to need to be up there," Ancog said. "There's no way his wife can handle that by herself."
Ann Wong, whose daughter died after two liver transplants, was contacted by the Stanford hospital to help, and has raised $400 for the Montiras.
"I know what it feels like to be in that situation, and hopefully it can be successful," said Wong, a Honolulu resident.
Montira said he hopes Landon's story raises public awareness about the need for organ donations.
In Hawaii, 37 percent of registered drivers signed up last year to donate their organs, up from 10 percent in 1991.
Although the number of donors is increasing, the list of people waiting for organs grows much faster, since transplantation is no longer considered experimental.
Donations may be made to "Larry E. Montira, custodian for Landon I. Ceno-Montira," and mailed to P.O. Box 2090, Waianae 96792, or dropped off at any Bank of Hawaii.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
