The Journey of Aga

Armand Gabriell Fulgencio a.k.a. Aga was born on Christmas Eve in 2010.

“Our happiness was immediately replaced with fears and heartaches when he was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia,” says Eleonora, Aga’s mom.

Aga underwent a Kasai operation when he was 12 weeks old, a surgical procedure where in the blocked bile ducts outside the liver are replaced with a length of the baby’s own intestine, which acts as a new duct.

Despite the Kasai procedure, Aga’s liver started to deteriorate, making him a candidate for liver transplantation.

In 2011, Eleonora and husband Armando thought of taking Aga abroad for his liver transplant operation. They started to raise money to meet the costs of the transplant.

They believed then that liver transplantation cannot be successfully done in the country because of the lack of facilities and expertise.

Aga’s gastroenterologist (from another hospital) referred them to Dr. Vanessa De Villa also in 2011 who gave them the option of doing the operation at The Medical City.  Dr. De Villa is the head of The Medical City Center for Liver Disease Management and Transplantation. The Fulgencio couple decided to ditch all plans to go abroad and to have Aga undergo the operation here.

Both Aga and dad Armando, who readily volunteered to donate part of his liver, were subjected to various tests and procedures to prepare them for the liver transplant. They had meetings with their multidisciplinary team of doctors. They met the key members of the transplant team. The liver transplant operation was postponed twice due to Aga’s health problems.

Aga became seriously ill and was hospitalized on February 1, 2015 due to fever, cough and watery stools. He was diagnosed and treated for severe sepsis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis and acute-on-chronic liver failure.

When Aga’s health improved, he was then scheduled for the delicate operation.

Aga underwent living donor liver transplantation on February 17, 2015. Two operations took place simultaneously. Aga’s diseased liver was removed entirely, after which he received a graft taken from Armando’s liver.

Aga’s post op recovery was stormy as he had several complications including life-threatening infection, rejection and seizures, all of which were attended to promptly and properly by his team of doctors.

He gradually improved and was eventually discharged after a two-month hospital stay. He goes to the CLDMT regularly for lab tests and check-ups as advised by his doctors.

The brave little warrior is a smart, jolly and well-loved boy. He owes his sunny disposition to the outpouring of love and support from his parents, sister Ella Andrei, relatives, friends, and from his TMC family. The Fulgencios and TMC are very grateful to PCSO for the generous assistance they have given to help Aga live on and grow.

Aga is turning six this year and loves going to school where he is a senior kinder. He enjoys the variety of activities and ideas he gets in school. His is certainly a worthwhile journey.