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Written by Bradley Wills | Day Month Year

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Zayn’s 500 days in Hospital: How extraordinary healthcare saved his life.

4 May 2026 | Expected time to read: 3-4 minutes

After Zayn came off ECMO and showed small signs of improvement, clinical Prof. Gordon Thomas started advocating for a kidney transplant. Complications following his liver transplant had caused serious damage to his kidneys, and a transplant was his only hope. 

“I can't put into words how incredible Zayn’s nurses and doctors were - especially Thomas. They were there from day one and treated him like their own son. I couldn’t have done it without them.” 

To the relief of Zayn's immediate and second family – the hospital – he received a kidney transplant eight months later. Every day that passed, he grew stronger and was eventually discharged.  

Zayn’s parents, Tania and Ali, braved the unimaginable. For over 500 days, they anxiously held their breath as their fourth child - their youngest – fought to stay alive. They were told to prepare for the worst and say goodbye more than once.  

The family’s nightmare turned miracle all started when Zayn was diagnosed with a serious liver condition called biliary atresia. Found in newborn babies, the disease causes scars and affects their ability to digest food. 

Thankfully, Zayn received a liver transplant. While the surgery went to plan, his body wasn’t responding the way it should. Tania recalls, “At first everything was going well until Zayn had trouble breathing. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t responding to anything. He was so pale.’’ 

The next few days were a blur. Zayn was rushed back into surgery and was wheeled out of theatre on a vital machine called ECMO. This piece of equipment is a life-support system that helps take pressure off the heart and lungs by pumping blood and oxygen around the body.  

For any parent, the reality of an ECMO machine is terrifying. Talking about it is really hard for Tania. 

There was no clear reason or explanation why Zayn was so sick. His devoted doctors were trying everything. They had to prepare his family that it was unlikely he’d pull through. 

“We went home and told our children – his brother and sisters - the devastating news. But when we arrived at the hospital preparing to say goodbye, something had changed – Zayn had turned a corner. He was fighting,’ says Tania.  

Zayn spent his first two birthdays in hospital. His doctors and nurses were always invited, balloon garlands decorated the courtyard, and there was plenty of cake – chocolate is his favourite. His loving family made sure birthdays felt special, knowing that every new milestone was never promised. 

The Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW) has the largest dedicated transplant unit for children in Australia - caring for children like Zayn from around the country. 

With the support of generous donors like you, the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network is working to change the future for some of the most critically ill children. 

For children like Zayn, a transplant can be life-saving – but it isn’t a cure. To stop the body from rejecting a new organ, children need to take medication for the rest of their lives. The newly established Children’s Centre for Transplantation and Research, funded with the support of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, is working to develop new treatments for children like Zayn.  

Professor Gordon Thomas, paediatric transplant surgeon and one of the lead clinicians at the Centre, says: 

“We believe children with organ failure deserve the best possible long-term outcomes. We want them to be cured and live long, healthy lives.” 

“What we really want to develop are treatments to prevent a child from needing a transplant at all. Where transplants can’t be avoided, we want to modify donated organs to make them more compatible with the recipient. If we can reach a point where kids like Zayn don’t need to take immunosuppressants, we can spare them the ongoing clinical monitoring that is required for patients taking these medications.”

With the support of generous donors, this work is helping to improve outcomes for children today. 

What your support makes possible: 

Not long ago, Zayn turned three and this time, he celebrated outside the hospital. No monitors. No tubes. No sanitiser. Just balloons, candles, a Minions-themed party, and a jumping castle. A special birthday for a very deserving little boy and his family. All reunited at last.  

By donating to the Sydney Sick Kids Appeal, your support helps ensure more children like Zayn can access life-saving transplant care – and the research that’s working towards better treatments and outcomes. 

You can change the future for sick kids like Zayn and for generations to come.