At just 2 months old, Layla was diagnosed with a rare liver condition called Biliary Atresia. 

Biliary Atresia is a life-threatening 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. The damage leads to scarring, loss of liver tissue and function, and cirrhosis.

Layla underwent a surgery called the Kasai. 

During the Kasai procedure, a surgeon removes the damaged bile ducts outside the liver. The surgeon uses a loop of the infant’s own small intestine to replace the damaged bile ducts. If the surgery is successful, bile will flow directly from the liver to the small intestine. The Kasai procedure does not cure biliary atresia. However, if the procedure is successful, it may slow liver damage and delay or prevent complications and the need for a liver transplant. The earlier the procedure is done, the more effective it may be.

After 5 months of having the Kasai procedure done, Layla’s medical providers determined that this temporary fix was unsuccessful and her only chance of survival would be to have a liver transplant.

On June 8th, 2022, Layla was placed on the transplant list after months of extensive transplant evaluations. 

Because of Layla’s condition, our family went from a two-income household down to one with additional medical expenses, hospital travel costs, and medications. We have been unsuccessful at finding a daycare center that would take Layla in with her condition and unfortunately she does not qualify for block Homecare nursing. Some days the financial burden is too much to bear. 

We have partnered with COTA to assist us with transplant-related expenses in order for us to focus on Layla’s care and ensure we have the support we need for a successful transplant and recovery.

It would be a tremendous help and incredible blessing if you would consider partnering with us by donating to COTA in honor of Layla and sending us healing energies during this time of need.

Thank you all so very much for your support and generosity. 

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.