Autumn Jane Pillman was born in December of 2018. At just over 6 pounds, Autumn was a peanut! No sooner than she was placed on her Mommy’s chest, this little powerhouse raised her head up and took a glance around the delivery room. She resembled that of an adorable little turtle and thus, the nickname “Turtle” was born.

Mommy and Daddy were instantly enamored with their new little beauty but soon grew concerned that her skin color didn’t look quite right. Her jaundice was brought to the attention of her pediatrician at her 1 month well-baby visit. Mommy and Daddy were informed that it was “breast-milk induced jaundice” and that it should resolve on its’ own. Unfortunately, the yellowish skin tone continued to worsen over the next few weeks and Autumn was sent for lab work following her 2 month well-baby visit. In just a few hours, Mommy and Daddy received a life-changing phone call saying that Autumn’s liver enzymes weren’t normal and that she was to be taken to STL Children’s Hospital that evening to be admitted for further testing.

The next few days are a complete blur for Autumn’s family. Blood work, ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, nasal swab, urine analysis, ECG, liver biopsy and several other advanced imaging studies . . . there isn’t a test that this poor little sweetheart didn’t undergo during her 4 days of hospitalization at just 9 weeks old. Her family hoped and prayed that this was just a bad dream, a mistake . . there’s no way this brand-new, beautiful little human was sick. It’s every parents worst nightmare. Unfortunately, after the results of all of her testing were finalized, there was a high degree of suspicion that Autumn had a serious pediatric liver disease called Biliary Atresia.

Just a week and a half later, Autumn underwent an invasive, two-part surgery called the Kasai procedure. The first part of the surgery was to determine whether or not Biliary Atresia was indeed the culprit. Dye was to be injected directly into her gall bladder in order to visualize appropriate flow in and out of her biliary tract. Unfortunately Autumn’s gall bladder was about one third the size of a typical infant gall bladder and her biliary tract was basically non-existent. Due to these two undeniable criteria, Biliary Atresia was confirmed. The second part of the surgery consisted of re-routing a small portion of her intestine directly to the base of the liver, attempting to restore bile flow from her liver. Autumn was given the following three months to heal and hope that the procedure was a success. Resoution of her yellow skin/eyes and bloodwork returning to normal would confirm the success of her Kasai procedure.

Unfortunately for Miss Turtle, her jaundiced skin and labwork only continued to worsen as the weeks and months passed, and her Kasai was deemed a failed procedure. After two and a half days of rigorous evaluation, Autumn was placed on the national transplant list in hopes of receiving a new, life-saving liver. Without a new liver, Autumn would continue to deteriorate and would unlikely live to see the age of 2. Despite her diagnosis and the complications that come with Biliary Atresia, Autumn is in stable condition at home with Mommy and Daddy where she continues to await her new liver.

Life with Biliary Atresia is difficult, plain and simple. Autumn is currently prescribed a dozen medications to keep her healthy and stable. Due to poor weight gain, a nasal gastric feeding tube was placed over the summer and she receives tube feedings every night while asleep. Autumn was hospitalized in July for 4 days due to the development of free-fluid in her abdomen called ascites which causes abdominal distention, vomiting and poor feeding. Autumn meets with her transplant team every few weeks for evaluation and bloodwork to ensure she’s as healthy as possible before transplant.

Each and every day is a struggle but Autumn’s family and friends do everything in their power to help her along her journey. We recently found out that Autumn’s grandmother Carol has been approved to be a back-up liver donor in case she fails to secure a pediatric cadaver organ. Mommy and Daddy love their little one and would give anything to see her grow and thrive. She’s such an amazing little girl, with an unparalleled resilience and a sweet, infectious personality. Autumn’s family appreciates every ounce of love and support shown during this difficult journey. Please keep sending good vibes her way as we hope to be transplanted very soon. Team Turtle Power!!!

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.