The Australian government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
Riley finally started primary school this year after receiving a life-saving liver transplant at 12 months old. Doctors diagnosed Riley with biliary atresia, a rare and life-threatening condition, shortly after she was born. Her early months involved numerous hospital visits, infections, and surgeries. At 32 days old, doctors transferred her to The Royal Children’s Hospital for specialised care.
Despite an initial surgery to attach a piece of her small intestine to her liver, Riley's condition worsened, leading to sepsis and progressive liver disease. Her doctors placed her on the liver transplant list. When a donor liver became available, her body rejected it, and doctors put her on life support. Her parents, Katrine and Rob, faced the heartbreaking uncertainty of whether Riley would survive.
‘It’s incredibly difficult when you go through that as a parent. You just want them to be able to reach those milestones and do all the things that you see every other kid getting to do,’ said Katrine.
The family faced extreme difficulties during the first few years. After the transplant rejection, Rob prepared to donate part of his liver, but then a liver from a deceased donor became available. The second transplant succeeded, and Riley has since grown into a strong, brave, and beautiful girl.
‘Now that we’re here and have gone through all of that we’re beyond grateful,’ said Katrine. ‘All the work that Riley’s done to catch up with her peers, including a lot of occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy, to be able to go to school – it’s just incredible.’
Katrine also expressed her gratitude to the ‘heroes’ who chose to donate their loved one’s organs.
‘We think of those families often and the fact that in their darkest hour, they were able to make that decision and offer us hope and give us that gift of life. We are more than grateful every day,’ she said.
