On December 7th 2010, A little miracle was born, Zeke Anthony Lee Harrison came into this world not breathing and no heart beat. A “CODE BLUE” was called and within seconds the room was filled with Doctors and Nurses. 10 seconds went by, 15 seconds, tears were flowing, breath was being held. Finally a squeal, a cry, an outburst of tears of happiness that our baby was alive.

Zeke was put into an incubator where he was on closely monitored over the next 24 hours. We could go in and see him, feed him, hold him just could not take him home. Five days had past when Zeke was able to come home to the
small town Wycheproof. However he was not interested in eating, he was
lethargic and was always awake. He would sleep for a couple of hours and then
be awake for long periods of time. After having him home for a few days, we
received call from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, it was a call that we would never forget. The call was from a team of doctors from the hospital with results of his new born heel-prick test.  There was an abnormality in his blood that had to be checked out, we were told we would have another call within the hour. Half an hour went past and the phone rang, there was an ambulance on its way to pick up Zeke to take him to the hospital. Within the next hour Zeke was being rushed to the Bendigo Base hospital where he waited for the emergency transport, which was to take him to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

For the next few hours I was a mess, didn’t know what was going on as i was in the truck working. Zeke’s mother Jazmin called me a number of times giving me updates on where they were and how he was doing. This just goes to show what the human body can do, Wycheproof to Bendigo he was fine, Bendigo to Melbourne he actually died 4 times. What a great job the doctors in Bendigo and the Paramedics in the Ambulance done that day.

I returned home from work and was deciding whether to head down or sleep the night and go down early in the morning, Jazmin told me to sleep the night and head off early in the morning, so I did that. I hardly slept at all that night, tossing and turning not knowing what was going on, thinking the worst not knowing if Zeke was going to make it through the night.

A phone call at 6.30am i will never forget, was Jazmin. “Hes on life support and they have put him in a coma”. Did that knock me for six. I was a mess i had to get organized and get down there. Our eldest son Jacob was dropped off at “Pop Harrys” and i was on my way. I remember ringing my boss and trying to explain what was happening. All i could get out was ” He’s on life support”.

Finally I was on the road and arrived at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital. Meeting up Jazmin and all the doctors and dietitian’s we sat down and went through what was going on. Zeke was Diagnosed with Maple Syrup Urine Disease, I was soon to learn that it is a metabolic disorder in which the body’s liver cannot break down certain parts of proteins such as amino acids, isoleucine and valine. This leads to a build
of the chemicals in the blood and in infants like Zeke, an overload would be fatal to him. MSUD is genetic and both parents need to be carriers, with a 1 in 4 chance of having a child affected by the rare disease. 7 people in Australia are affected. It requires long term treatment of a special low-protein diet, and for Zeke the diet includes a man-made formula with low levels of amino acids, isoleucine and valine. This diet is permanent, and it is important to work closely with his dieticians’ at the RCH and conduct frequent blood tests. An unbalance of this diet can cause damage to his neurological system.

Zeke’s Diet has been strictly watched and carefully planned out day to day. Food and Drink needs to be weighed out every time so we know how much protein he has throughout the day. It was a big struggle early in 2013 as Zeke was admitted several times as his protein levels had reached such dangerously high levels that he needed to be in an induced coma and was back on dialysis. It was a scary moment for everyone as the last time Zeke was in this condition was back when he was 7 days old. After one week of hospital care Zeke was back up and running around and discharged on a home care regime. This scare was repeated less than a month later and we all rushed to the hospital again for another 6 days. For the next 4 months Zeke spent half this time in the hospital with a constant high imbalance in his levels.
However this all changed mid December 2013.
In January 2013 Zeke’s mum and dad received calls that Zeke had been selected to be reviewed to be added to the Liver Transplant List.
Throughout April and May we were given an incredible amount of information about liver transplant and what it will mean for Zeke. Zeke went through countless examinations and tests and on the 30th of May it became offical. Zeke was on the Transplant List.

Not long after Zeke’s 3rd birthday, 5am one morning we received a call that would change our lives forever. A liver had been selected for Zeke. Within a few hours Zeke was in at the Royal Children’s Hospital getting prepped for surgery. At 12.45pm he said ‘goodnight’ to dad and mum and at 1pm was wheeled away. For the next 12 hours Zeke was in the hands of Dr Bob Jones and at 1am he was wheeled into the ICU unit while Dr Bob and team spoke at length with Zeke’s Dad and Mum about the successful surgery.
Zeke spent one week in ICU and a further 2 and half weeks in the Cockatoo Ward before being discharged to a home care regime.
My time spent at the Royal Children’s Hospital has opened my eyes to the incredible and tireless work that the staff do. They see hundreds
of children admitted every week but they have a smile and a laugh for every one of them and their families. They can make the miracles happen.
Without their on-going knowledge, help, and support, Zeke would not be here with us today. Even more so their incredible surgical team has given my son a new lease on life.