Ontario father undergoes surgery to save one of his 3 year old twin daughters

Michael Wagner and wife Johanne with daughters Phuoc and Binh (Facebook photo)

TORONTO — Doctors are expected to issue an update today on a Kingston, Ont., father’s effort to save one of his ailing twin daughters by giving part of his liver.

Michael Wagner’s three-year-old twins — Phuoc and Binh — have Alagille syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the liver, heart and other organs.

Without a liver transplant, the girls will die, and doctors in Toronto decided which of the twins would receive the transplant after the family said it could not make the decision.

A post on the family’s Facebook page late Tuesday said the surgery for Wagner and Phuoc went well, though the next few days would be critial for the young girl.

Hospital officials said the two operations would take 18 to 22 hours, and doctors expected to be able to provide an update on the surgeries this morning.

The Wagners, who have nine kids, are still waiting for a liver donor for their other daughter.