Aria MacDonald, Transplant Recipient, Auckland, New Zealand, 2006 - 2011





Aria MacDonald, the five-year-old girl who endured two liver, kidney, pancreas and small bowel transplants to fight a rare condition, has died in hospital.

Aria, from Auckland, received the transplants at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha in February and May last year but was then diagnosed with post-transplant cancer.

She suffered infection after infection as she tried to recover.

Mother Anita MacDonald announced the news on the family's blog. ''Her [Aria's] five years of life has been one of hardships, struggles, pain, suffering and sorrow; yet we know that she has gone to a place where she need not be bothered by these things any longer.''

She was born with a rare condition that stopped her digesting food.

Her cancer - a rare complication of organ transplants - was caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which also causes glandular fever.

Aria turned five two weeks ago, and the family had hoped to take her to Disney World to celebrate, but she was too ill.


"For I know the plans I had for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11"