Judah was born on October 10, 2020. Although we thought he was a perfectly healthy baby boy, at 8 days old we learned that he had high direct bilirubin and a gallbladder couldn’t be seen on ultrasound. After weeks of testing, Judah was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, a rare pediatric liver disease, at 7 weeks old. On December 1st, 2020, Judah underwent the Kasai procedure. This procedure is only successful in a fraction of babies, and unfortunately, Judah’s Kasai failed. He is now awaiting his life saving liver transplant.

In his short life, Judah has been through more than most adults will ever go through. Countless sticks and pokes, lab draws, PICC lines, IVs, ultrasounds, x-rays, MRIs, echocardiograms, EKGs, scans and studies, 7 hospital admissions, one critical care ambulance transport, and many clinic visits. All of Judah’s care takes place over 5 hours from home at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Being so far from his team makes this journey even more difficult because of things like lodging, travel, meals, and most of all, having to be away from his 3-year-old big sister, Willow. We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with transplant-related expenses such as these. Please consider donating to COTA for Judahs Journey.

As Judah waits for the call that a liver match has been found, we find peace in Isaiah 35:5, knowing that Jesus has already taken care of Judah’s healing. Judah is our little miracle, and we can’t wait to see the big plans that God has for him. What a testimony our boy will have one day!

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.