NEW DELHI — Nearly three months after arriving in India with little more than hope, Filipino twin toddlers Tyler and Kelly Clarito are preparing to return home after undergoing two rare and complex liver transplant surgeries that doctors say have given the children a second chance at life.
The two-year-old twins from Tandag City in Surigao del Sur are expected to return to the Philippines on August 1, following weeks of post-operative monitoring at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and subsequent follow-up consultations while staying at a hotel near the hospital in New Delhi.
Tyler underwent a living-donor liver transplant on May 29, followed by Kelly’s transplant five days later on June 3. Both children had developed liver failure due to Choledochal Cyst Type IVA, a rare congenital condition affecting the bile ducts.
According to Apollo Hospitals, Tyler’s surgery lasted more than 15 hours, while Kelly’s procedure took over 13 hours. Both surgeries involved complex surgical reconstruction before the children gradually recovered and achieved healthy liver function.
Dr. Anupam Sibal, Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Group Medical Director at Apollo Hospitals, highlighted the exceptional nature of the case, noting that Tyler and Kelly were the first set of twins among the 645 pediatric liver transplants performed at the hospital.
“Liver transplants in twins are rare, and for both children to need a liver transplant at the same time is even rarer. Both the babies were small, and that made the transplants even more challenging,” Sibal said.
He described the twins as a powerful example of “Born Together, Fought Together and Saved Together.”
Dr. Neerav Goyal, Senior Liver Transplant Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, said the twins have recovered well and continue to show healthy liver function during follow-up.
“These transplants highlight the role of timely intervention, unwavering family support and dedicated medical care that has given two young children the opportunity to lead healthy lives,” Goyal said.
The Journey Continues Beyond the Hospital
For the twins’ parents, Wilson and Daisy Ann Clarito, the children’s discharge and return home will mark not the end of their journey, but the beginning of another critical phase: ensuring their sons receive consistent post-transplant care in the Philippines.
Speaking to the Manila Bulletin, Wilson said the children will require strict adherence to post-transplant medications, regular laboratory monitoring and ongoing consultations. The family’s nearest hospital capable of managing their follow-up care is in Davao City.
Medication quotations provided by Apollo Hospitals include immunosuppressants and other maintenance medicines, including Pangraf (tacrolimus), Mycept (mycophenolate mofetil), Valgan, Omnacortil and Ecosprin. The prescribed medicines are estimated to cost approximately $1,700 for Tyler and $2,153 for Kelly.
Wilson said the family was advised to secure the children’s prescribed medicines in India before returning to the Philippines and appealed for assistance to help ensure continuity of treatment.
“We were told that the medicines needed for one year can only be purchased here in India and are not available in the Philippines. If anyone can help us, even by providing the medicines, we would already be very grateful,” Wilson said.
A Long Road to India
The twins’ journey to New Delhi followed months of deteriorating health despite repeated medical treatment in the Philippines. Their condition was marked by hospitalizations, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal swelling and poor growth, eventually leaving liver transplantation as their only chance of survival.
Wilson said the family spent more than a year seeking treatment in Manila after traveling from Mindanao in the hope that their children could receive the surgery they desperately needed.
“We came from Mindanao and took a chance by going to Manila, hoping our children could undergo surgery. Then we ended up in India. We never expected it,” he said.
According to Apollo Hospitals, the family’s referral was facilitated by Briseis Liver2Hold Organization Inc., in collaboration with Makati Mayor Nancy Binay and other supporters who helped coordinate the children’s treatment and mobilize financial assistance.
Wilson said Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso shouldered the twins’ hospital expenses, while Mayor Binay covered the family’s airfare. Senator Erwin Tulfo helped fund their accommodation, and businessman Kevin Ty continued to provide assistance throughout the family’s stay in India.
Recalling the moment the family received confirmation of financial support for the surgeries, Wilson said the assistance brought immense relief.
“We were overwhelmed. When Mayor Isko Moreno agreed to shoulder the hospital expenses, it felt like a huge burden had been lifted from us,” Wilson said.
He recalled Moreno telling the family that the City of Manila and its taxpayers would help cover whatever medical support the children required.
A Second Chance, With New Challenges Ahead
The successful transplants have given Tyler and Kelly the opportunity to return home and begin a new chapter of their lives. However, their recovery will depend on continued access to essential medications, regular medical monitoring and specialized post-transplant care.
For the Clarito family, the journey that began with uncertainty and desperation in the Philippines has now brought them to a hopeful milestone in India. As the twins prepare to return home, their story also highlights the critical importance of timely access to specialized pediatric transplant care, sustained family support and continued assistance for patients navigating the demanding journey after transplantation.
