Liver failure youth returns home

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8300519.stm

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A 19-year-old youth who was given just weeks to live in August after damaging his liver in a drinking binge has been allowed home.

Gareth Anderson, from Newtownards, spent six weeks at King's Hospital in London after being refused a place on the liver transplant waiting list.

His liver regenerated enough to allow him to return to NI for treatment and he has now been discharged.

His father Brian said it was a "joyous day" when Gareth was allowed home.

"This is the next step in his rehabilitation. He still needs a lot of attention but it's a joyous day - a big result for us," he told the Belfast News Letter.

The young man, allowed home on Friday, will return to the Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment on Sunday.

Gareth's plight prompted a fresh debate on organ transplant policy.

He was refused a place on the transplant list because he had not been alcohol-free for six months.