“We welcomed our beautiful and perfectly healthy (or so we thought) baby boy in January of 2023. Soon after, we noticed the discoloration in Breyman’s skin, and when it didn’t resolve itself, we requested blood work to determine the cause. Those tests showed elevated bilirubin levels, and that afternoon, we were on the phone to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis scheduling an appointment with the Pediatric GI specialists. Thus, our journey to learn about liver function and our lifelong relationship with one of the best children’s hospitals in the world began.

More tests revealed that Breyman’s liver had not developed just right, requiring a surgical procedure called Kasai, which was performed on Brey’s 6-week birthday, March 10. The surgeon created a bypass from the liver so bile could pass directly into the intestine. At the same time, Brey’s gall bladder was also removed. Special formulas were recommended and medications were prescribed. This seemed to work for our son for a while, but in August, we returned to the hospital for treatment of Cholangitis, a bacterial infection which blocks the bile from passing properly, jaundice to worsen, and swelling in the belly. We stayed at Riley 6 days and went home with another set of medications. It was then that our team of doctors advised that Brey’s liver was failing and started the discussion of putting him on the liver transplant list. On October 25 our Breyman’s name was officially placed on that list with a status of 6.

Max and I are managing Brey’s day-to-day care while preparing for the inevitable, and worry about keeping our jobs and trying to maintain our own strength and health as well. To help ease the financial strain experienced by transplant families, we have now partnered with Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), a nationwide not-for-profit group based in Bloomington, IN, that assists families with transplant-related expenses. COTA accepts donations from individuals and organizations of all sizes and distributes funds for transplant-related expenses throughout their entire lives. Just as we are now a lifelong member of the Riley Hospital family, we are also forever linked to COTA.

While we wait for the call regarding the miracle that will save our son’s life, we invite you to participate in this wonderful institution by placing your name on the COTA contributor list in honor of Breyman. All gifts are sincerely appreciated by all who benefit from COTA’s help. Thank you for considering a donation to COTA in honor of Brey.

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.