Brianna was diagnosed with biliary atresia at 9 weeks in August of 1998. Within days she had her Kasai. It was immediately evident that Brianna would be one who would struggle with her Kasai to work. Within 4 days from her release after her Kasai, she had her first case of cholangitis and was back in the hospital. Brianna has had, including her first stay up through her transplant, 35 hospitalizations for everything from cholangitis, blood infections, RSV and severe anemia. Brianna was transplanted, after a year on the waiting list, in April 2001.

Brianna has had some complications post transplat, but nothing that we feel we can’t overcome. After all, even though we traded “one set of problems for another,” as they often tell you during transplant evaluation, the difference that someone’s gift of life has made for Brianna is totally remarkable and miraculous. We will forever be grateful to our donor family and hope one day we get the chance to meet them.