Few fears cut deeper than watching a child fight for life. For three Filipino families, that fear turned into hope through a breakthrough once thought out of reach: a liver transplant, now possible here at home.

Since 2011, The Medical City’s Center for Liver Health and Transplantation (Liver Center) has successfully performed operations on 18 pediatric and 11 adult patients, utilizing both living and deceased donors.

Most recently, three young children were given a second chance at life through the Joint Liver Transplant Program of The Medical City (TMC) and Rizal Medical Center (RMC), launched in January 2025.

When one-year-old King Leo Villanueva Laurora was diagnosed with biliary cirrhosis, his parents were told that time was running out. His father brought him to The Medical City, searching for any solution. There, tests confirmed what they feared most: Leo needed a liver transplant.

Among his parents, it was his mother, Maricar, who was found to be the match. On April 12, 2025, she made history, becoming the first patient in the Philippines to undergo a fully robotic donor hepatectomy using the Da Vinci Xi system.

The advanced technology made her recovery faster, allowing her to care for her son sooner. “I just wanted him to get better and live a normal life,” Maricar said softly. “That was the only thing that mattered.”

In November 2023, Eli suffered his first internal bleeding, confirming that his liver was failing. This was followed by recurrent episodes of bleeding requiring repeated confinement and procedures. Ivan and Maricor, had once planned to seek treatment abroad, but after consulting Dr. Vanessa De Villa, a Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgeon and head of Liver Center at TMC, they decided to stay and trust the local team.

By March 2025, they began preparations for the procedure, and tests revealed that Maricor was a perfect match. On August 28, 2025, she became her son’s living donor.

Today, Eli is recovering well and slowly going back to normal life, as any 8-year-old should be. Eli’s story is a testament to faith, a mother’s love, and the world-class care now available to Filipino families right here at home.

At just nine months old, Clyden Reid Herrera urgently needed a liver transplant. His condition had also caused severe and repeated bleeding from internal veins. His parents were not suitable donors, and time was running out. Then came hope from within the family. His aunt, Precious, bravely volunteered to give a part of herself to save her nephew’s life.

On September 3, 2025, Precious donated a portion of her liver to Clyden, a selfless act that gave the baby a new chance to live.

“After donating just a small part of my liver, I can say that I was able to save a life, not just anyone’s, but my nephew’s,” said Precious with tears in her eyes. “Seeing him recover makes every bit of sacrifice worth it.”

Clyden’s mother, Regina, could only express gratitude. “Because of the doctors and the medical team at The Medical City, our son’s life was extended. We will forever be thankful for this second chance.”

These three transplants mark the beginning of a new chapter for Filipino families, one where lifesaving care no longer requires flying abroad, selling a home, or losing time.

“This is a turning point,” said Dr. Vanessa de Villa, Director of TMC’s Liver Center and Head of the TMC-RMC Joint Liver Transplant Program.

“We want every Filipino to know that a liver transplant is possible here at home. Our hope is to make this treatment accessible to more Filipinos in need, both children and adults, by, hopefully, having it included in PhilHealth’s Z Benefit Packages.”

For the Lauroras, the Meilys, and the Herreras, the impossible became possible, and the miracle, closer than they ever imagined. The families remain most grateful to all benefactors and donors who made their journey to health possible.