Ivanna was born on April 4th, 2017. She weighed 8.10, just a healthy little baby. By the second day of life she was jaundice and that’s when our journey began. At two weeks old Ivanna was diagnosed with a rare condition called Biliary Atresia.
Biliary atresia is a condition in infants in which the bile ducts outside and inside the liver are scarred and blocked. Bile can’t flow into the intestine, so bile builds up in the liver and damages it.
She had the Kasai surgery on April 20th to attempt to re-route the bile ducts but unfortunately it was not successful, and Ivanna continues to grow more sick without a properly functioning liver. On October 9th Ivanna was officially listed for a liver transplant. And even though she is facing all this, she is the strongest, happiest, sweetest baby. She conquers every day with her beautiful smile. She is the perfect addition to our family. We love our baby Ivanna.
As a family we are praying for healing and a creative miracle in Ivanna. We know that our God is able to do the impossible, we also know He works in mysterious ways that our mind can’t understand but we do know that His ways are perfect. We trust that God is in control and we know His timing is perfect.
Pray for strength, wisdom and peace for Irvin and myself as we face this difficult journey. Pray for Micaela, Ivanna’s big sister, as she adjusts to so many disruptions in her schedule and routines.
The multiple stays at the hospital has our family apart. The medical treatment expenses, gas, meal expenses, and the days of work we missed are some of the reasons we chose to partner with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA). The Children’s Organ Transplant Association is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant related expenses. We hope to alleviate some of the financial stress by working with COTA to raise funds for transplant-related expenses. Any money given is tax deductible and 100% of these gifts will go to COTA in honor of Ivanna to assist with transplant-related expenses. And COTA provides support to families and patients for a lifetime.
Thank you for your support and prayers.
You have shown so much strength and faith throughout this journey, and I’m so happy I can call you my friend. Ivanna will do amazing through transplant, just as she’s done through all of her other obstacles she has faced.