I wanted a little girl so much, at the time I was having such a difficult time getting pregnant. I prayed to God every day for a child and specifically a girl. God answered my prayers – I became pregnant. My joy was so much, I could not stop Thanking God for His blessing. My pregnancy was good and I was really excited to meet my daughter.
My daughter was born and there were signs immediately that she was not totally healthy. Genesis was immediately put on a lot of medications. She was jaundiced and had a high bilirubin requiring her to spend a week in the neonatal intensive care unit before she could go home with me. I was still overjoyed to have my little baby. She was so perfect and I knew I would go through anything for her. As she grew her eyes and skin turned yellow. I took her to all of the specialists, and that began my daughter’s journey to multiple physician visits consistently throughout the year, every year, even to this day. By the age of 1.5-month-old, Genesis had to have surgery for biliary atresia.
My daughter’s condition was being monitored over the years. Her skin and eyes still remained yellow. Sometimes other children would make her feel insecure, so I started her in programs that would build her confidence – ice skating, dance, art, choir, and other. By 2024, I started noticing Genesis stomach swelling even more, her eyes becoming even more yellow. Her skin was so dry and her scalp flaking a lot. She was winded easily, tired more often and eating less and less.
By 2025, the physicians were talking about how Genesis would need a liver transplant eventually. We relocated and established care in the new state of Florida – it was a stressful time. We finally got established in our new town, Genesis in her new school, and Genesis was thriving with so many friends in school and in the new community. However, her health began declining even more.
Genesis started sleeping a lot; it was difficult to get her to eat – she would get upset when I tried to get her to eat something. Her energy levels were so low, and I became even more concerned for her, as she slept almost all day long. I was giving her all of the medications instructed, forcing her to eat something to keep her healthy, giving her nutritional shakes prescribed by the physicians and ensuring she drank water consistently.
By 2026, we were driving 3 hours one way to the Children’s Hospital to see the specialists she needed, sometimes 2-3 times per week. My ability to work and care for my daughter was diminished significantly. Genesis needed me every day, and all day, to get her through. Her stomach was so distended with fluid; her frail body was sticking out from under her shirts that used to fit her. I bought her extra baggy clothes to try and hide the fluid buildup and swelling taking place in her body.
Her breathing was more labored after any activity; she needed procedures under anesthesia to tie off the blood clots in her body that threatened to break loose and cause her to be disabled or worse. I could feel my daughter’s time was running out. I let the doctors know that I felt it was time to put Genesis on the transplant list. Initially they felt it might be too soon, but a mother knows.
Genesis was added to the list, and not long afterwards, her condition became even worse, almost rapidly. Genesis needed multiple trips to the hospital for scoping, blood clot clamping, rehydration, and drainage of the fluid buildup. We had two anonymous live donors step forward and one family friend come forward to be tested. Unfortunately, the process would take months just to test one person, and Genesis was running out of time.
I lay there worrying about her, watching her sleeping next to me in my bed. Then, I received the call. There was a liver available and we needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible. The live donors were going to donate 1/3rd of their liver to Genesis and hope it regenerated. This was a whole liver from a deceased donor. We packed our bags and started the 3-hour drive to the hospital. We arrived and everything was happening so fast. The next morning Genesis went into surgery. It took almost 9 hours, but everything was successful. Praise God.
It was the first time I saw my daughter’s eye white and not yellow anymore, her skin no longer yellow with jaundice. The liver transplant was working and working well. The recovery process has been very difficult, but we are making it through. Genesis needs continued care, medications, nutrition, germ prevention – mask wearing and constant hand washing. Genesis is not able to return to her school this year and will start home study once able. Currently we are still traveling to the hospital or staying at the Ronald McDonald house so that Genesis can have daily blood work and regular scans to ensure the liver transplant is healing properly and she is not showing any signs of rejection.
We pray that God will continue to bless her, bless us. We pray that God will continue to heal Genesis and ensure that the liver transplant stays successful. I feel so worried about keeping her safe. I pray all the time. God blessed me with my miracle baby, and He continues to keep His protection over her. God willing she will live a long and blessed life.
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.