Brazilian Baby Travels to Miami for Life-saving Transplant

At nearly seven months pregnant, Aline Libração da Lavra received the alarming news that her baby was possibly developing a bowel obstruction, and that she would need to be monitored closely for the duration of her pregnancy.

Pedro Libração da Lavra Baragão was born on August 22, 2013, in Brazil. Five days later, he underwent his first surgery and doctors determined he had developed a birth defect called short bowel syndrome – a rare condition in which the small intestine is missing or didn’t develop properly.

“The doctors basically told me that my baby had no intestines,” Aline said. “It was the worst day of my life. I felt helpless. I kept praying he wasn’t in pain.”

Pedro spent months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a hospital in Brazil. Four months later, he underwent a second procedure called serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) – a technique used to increase bowel length to help absorption in the intestine so it can function more efficiently. Doctors then informed Aline that Pedro’s best treatment option would involve a lifesaving intestinal transplant, a procedure not done in Brazil.

At that point, family and friends began creating a social media and fundraising campaign for Pedro or “Pedrinho” as he is known in Brazil, in hopes of rallying support from  the entire country. On October 13, 2014, thanks to all the support and donations from Brazilian citizens, Pedro and his family arrived at Holtz Children’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center where he began treatment.

On March 2, Aline received the news that they had found a match for Pedro.

“I began praying when I got the call,” Aline said.  “I was thankful and I told God, ‘it’s all up to you. I put Pedro’s life in your hands.’”

That day, doctors at the Miami Transplant Institute at Jackson Memorial Hospital performed a successful surgery, in which Pedro received a new large and small intestine.

Pedrinho is reacting well to his new organs as he continues recovering at Holtz Children’s. Each day he makes new progress – recently he began enjoying solid foods for the first time.

“I’ve learned that I have to take it a day at a time and be patient,” Aline said. “We have been through so much with Pedrinho that now I understand everything has to move at his time. He’s my miracle.”