In first-of-its kind successful pediatric liver transplant, a three-year-old girl was saved from the brutal clutches of death.

The surgery, which took place in The Medical City (TMC) on January 7, took nearly twenty tiring hours to complete.

In the process, the liver of Catherine Erica Buenaventura, the patient, was removed and instead, a graft from the liver of his uncle was fitted by the team of eleven surgeons.

After spending eight days in intensive care unit post-surgery, the young Erica was later shifted to the normal room. Doctors reported that she is recovering normally and is learning to walk and eat normally.

Erica was diagnosed with swollen abdomen and enlarged liver, when she was just two-months-old. But because the operation was quite expensive at P4.5 million, her parents were unable to get her a treatment.

However, a ray of hope was seen when the TMC and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, decided to do the funding.

Mrs. Buenaventura, the mother, was overwhelmed with the gratitude and thanked Llantino, as he not only donated a part of his liver but also contacted the charity to fund them.

Dr. Alfredo Bengzon, CEO of TMC, expressed his joy over the successful completion of the surgery and said that this is for the first time the operation of this complexity has been performed in the Philippines.