Expecting
a child can be very exciting for any parent to be. But anyone who has a child
or is expecting one knows that along with the excitement come other emotions,
such as fear and anxiety.
When
it comes to pregnancy, both parents may feel anxious that everything will go
smoothly and both mother and baby will be as heatlhy as possible.
Giving
birth to a baby that is unwell is thus a devastating experience that no parent
should ever have to go through.
Sadly,
this was the case for Amanda and Justin from Illinois, USA, when their precious
baby girl Braylee became sick just a few months after she was born.
You
can only imagine the happiness Amanda and Justin felt after 9 months of waiting
and imagining what their little girl would be like.
But
sadly, just a few months after she was born, they noticed something was not
quite right with their little girl. Her skin had a yellowish tint and it was
clear that she was not well.
On
February 3, 2016, the parents found out that their girl had a rare liver
disease called biliary atresia, meaning she had been born without a
gallbladder, the crucial organ where bile is stored and then released into the
small intestine. The organ plays an important part in the digestion process,
which is especially important for the health and growth of a newborn.
The
doctors informed Braylee’s parents that her condition was critical.
Amanda
and Justin were devastated.
The
doctors operated on Braylee, connecting her liver to her intestines, but this
unfortunately didn’t solve the problem and the girl continued to be ill.
Braylee’s
condition deteriorated. Her stomach became bloated until it was the size of a
big balloon.
The
doctors concluded that the little girl required a liver transplant as soon as
possible.
Unfortunately,
no emergency liver donors were available at the time.
The
family was desperate.
After
speaking to the doctors and careful consideration, Justin offered to donate a
part of his own liver to save his baby’s life.
The
operation was very risky and could possibly damage Justin’s own health. But the
father didn’t care — he just wanted to see his baby girl alive and happy.
But
just as Justin was getting ready to go through the operation, a miracle
occurred.
Somehow
just in time, a liver donor was found. The deceased man’s liver would be used
for two babies and Braylee would be one of them.
The
transplant surgery was a success.
Braylee
responded very well to her new liver and gradually began developing into a
healthy baby girl. Her skin color returned to normal and she was all smiles,
just like any other toddler.
It’s
now been over a year since Braylee came home from the hospital. Now 19 months
old, her recent pictures truly show what a difference that year has made.
Thanks
to a very generous human being who signed himself up as an organ donor, this
baby girl has been given a chance to live.
We
want to thank all the organ donors out there. They truly are angels in
disguise.
This is a remarkable story and we wish Braylee and her
family the best of luck.
These people have been through so much! Please honor them
and their struggle by sharing their story with all your friends.
Source : newsner.com