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Options Limited For Baby Savannah

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2007

RIVERVIEW - The plea in Ana Anselmo's daily Internet blog summed up the anguish of many parents awaiting organ transplants for dying children.

'If you are an organ donor, please remember to let your family know,' the 36-year-old Riverview mother wrote. 'Don't take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows we need them here.'

Anselmo and her husband, Robert, 40, are reeling from the disappointment last week in their quest to find a liver donor for their 10-month-old daughter, Savannah.

The tests indicated Ana Anselmo's sister, Carolina, the fifth family member to be tested, would be a match. In that case, a portion of her liver would be 3removed and transplanted into Savannah, and both partial livers would regenerate into full working livers.

The Anselmos were ready to fly their only child to Philadelphia for the delicate lifesaving operation this week but found out at the last minute that although the liver matches, the vein structure does not.

Heartbroken but not defeated, the Anselmos have gone back to watching their daughter's condition deteriorate and praying that someone who is an exact match will be willing to sacrifice a portion of his or her liver.

This time, the chances of that happening, Ana Anselmo said, are slimmer. After exhausting all of the relatives as potential donors, the couple must look to a stranger to save their daughter.

Savannah is among the one in 15,000 babies born each year with biliary atresia, a disease that causes inflammation and obstruction of the bile ducts.

The cherub-faced girl, with her puffy cheeks, big brown eyes and long lashes, has won the hearts of the community. Friends and strangers have been compelled to launch fundraising campaigns through the Children's Organ Transplant Association to help the Anselmos pay for Savannah's medications and other healthcare expenses. The family's insurance doesn't cover all of the expenses.

Ana Anselmo said she will not forget the day the family's funds were especially low and she visited the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry. The food pantry provides food to needy residents on Friday mornings.

'I've never had to ask for help before in my life,' Ana Anselmo said. 'I was so embarrassed and so ashamed. My husband has a good job. We were just overwhelmed. I didn't know what to do with all the bills.'

The family travels to Philadelphia monthly to meet with Savannah's transplant team, makes co-payments on dozens of medications, and purchases syringes, pediatric surgical masks and special compounds and formulas not covered by insurance.

Food pantry volunteer JoAnn Higgins said she spotted Ana Anselmo sitting in her car wearing a surgical mask to prevent spreading her cold germs to Savannah, who was riding in the back seat. She could tell Ana Anselmo was reluctant to come in, so Higgins decided to approach her.

'I got an hour's worth of therapy, and then she apologized because I was getting the leftover food,' Anselmo said. 'She told me to come before the pantry opens so I can get food and won't have to expose Savannah to people. It was a blessing. They filled my belly and my spirit.'

Longtime St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry volunteer Camille Riggins said the Anselmos' story hit home. Riggins had a successful kidney transplant 11 years ago.

'My first passion is St. Vincent de Paul, and my second passion is promoting organ donations,' she said.

When the society held its fifth-annual fundraising tea Sept. 8 for 124 participants, Savannah was the recipient of all the money raised, $5,000.

Other fundraisers have been held by area businesses.

She appreciates the valiant efforts, but Ana Anselmo is frustrated.

'The most frustrating thing about this process is watching your baby girl slowly deteriorating before your eyes, and you can only do your best to slow down the process for, without a liver transplant, there is no stopping it,' she said.

The Anselmos believe a live donor is their daughter's best bet because Savannah ranks 59th on the list of babies waiting to receive liver transplants from cadavers.

A female donor younger than 35 with a petite frame who doesn't smoke or drink and is in good medical health would be ideal for Savannah. The testing includes lab work, an MRI and possibly a biopsy. Because it is major surgery, the candidate needs to make arrangements for a few weeks of recovery.

Ana Anselmo said it's the giggles of the baby whom she has nicknamed her Warrior Princess that give her strength.

'I can't feel sorry for myself,' she said. 'I've met parents who have children who need double lung transplants. I heard from another mom whose baby died of biliary atresia. She wrote to me after seeing the article about Savannah. She said she put the article up on her refrigerator, that I was saying the words she had wanted to say.

'I just hope people continue to keep Savannah in their prayers, along with all the other children who are waiting for a chance to grow up.'

HOW TO HELP

To donate to Savannah Anselmo's fund, visit www.cota forsavannaha.com.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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