Kitchener parents hope social media can help with liver donor search for their 5-month-old baby

A Kitchener family is hoping a stranger will step up to save the life of their baby. CTV’s Ashley Bacon has William Sarac’s story.

A Kitchener, Ont. couple seeking a liver donor for their baby have turned to social media for help.

William Sarac is only five-months-old and already fighting for his life. A few days after he was born, he was diagnosed with urea cycle disorder, a rare genetic disease.

The doctors initially thought William had jaundice but quickly realized the situation was much more serious.

“His liver is missing an enzyme, and he can’t break down and process protein,” said his mother Elizabeth Sarac. “Because of that, ammonia builds up in his blood and that’s very toxic, especially to the brain, so the only cure for that is a liver transplant.”

William has now been on the transplant list for practically his entire life.

“You go on the transplant list with a score out of 40,” Elizabeth said. “He’s a 40 out of 40, so he can’t go any higher.”

No one in his immediate family is a suitable match, so the his only hope is for a live liver donation from a stranger.

And since William is so small, the donor needs to meet very specific requirements.

“Somebody with an O blood type, they can be positive or negative,” Elizabeth explained. “Anyone from the ages of 18 to 55, and obviously the younger the better. But as long as the liver is healthy, as long as the person’s healthy. And, ideally, they’re looking for somebody 70 kilograms or less.”

William’s parents said he already has two big loves: dinosaurs and his older sister.

“It is very difficult, but she definitely brings joy to him,” said dad Mike Sarac. “He smiles every time she talks to him. Yeah, she’s hanging in there, the best she can too.”

For now, the family is trying to stay positive and soak up every moment with their baby.

More information on living organ donation can be found here.