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The top left picture is my Mom and I when I was 1 day old. In the top right picture, I am playing in my Supersaucer after my 1st operation. The bottom left picture is the day we got our "call" for my liver transplant. I was really sick then.... The bottom right picture is me now and I feel great...
Hello! My name is Aaron. I am 16-months-old. My birthday is December 9, 1997. I am a beautiful blond headed, blue eyed, fair skinned boy. I weighed a whopping 8 lb, 1 oz when I was born. The day following my birth I turned a little yellow, (jaundiced) and it didn't go away. So Mom took me back to the Doctor, where Dr. Judith Tolkan ran some tests and sent me to the hospital. The worst part was they wouldn't let me eat, see I'm a growing boy. I cried as loud as I could, but it didn't bother them. When it was all done, the doctors gave Mom, Dad and me the bad news. I had Biliary Atresia a rare, progressive liver disease in infants. The good news was there was a surgery (called the Kasai procedure) that could make me better. I met a group of new friends (Doctors), which includes a surgeon, Dr. John C. Bleacher, and a Gastroenterologist, Dr. Gloria Berenson, and a whole bunch of people wearing white coats and green suits.
I was 7 weeks old when they ripped me out of Mom's arms and took me to the OR. I had a Great Surgeon, Dr. Bleacher. He took the best care of me. Made my Mom happy, because he told her he would treat me like his own baby. A few days after the surgery, Mom, Dad, and all my newfound friends celebrated my first BM. It was very dark, I've never seen such chaos. After a few weeks, I felt great and again I was a fair skinned baby. My surgery was successful for a while but I spent a lot of time in the hospital, for tummy aches (Cholangitis, a complication of the surgery).
When I turned 7 months old and was beginning to feel very bad. Then I developed extra fluid on my tummy (escites) and my bili-rubin level rose from 1 to 18 and then to 39 before my transplant. I was orange like Tigger, and I smelled like a fish. (Ammonia Intoxication) I was very weak, and I didn't feel like playing in my Supersaucer or with my toys. I just wanted Mom to hold me. I was a shinny little baby, weighing only thirteen pounds, I tried to keep up my strength by eating every thing in sight but my liver just wouldn't give... I had to have a new liver, so I was listed for a transplant August 12, 1998, and hospitalized for 2 weeks to boost my health before a transplant. My Mom said as sick as I was, I never stopped smiling. On September 17, Mom answered the phone and received our "call." Someone wonderful had donated their loved ones liver to me, I got half of it. Yeah! I was transplanted September 18, with my "new-to-me" liver, at Egleston Hospital. I love my Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Thomas Heffron. He is very smart and he knows just how to keep me well. I am also crazy about Todd Pillen his helper. Todd plays peek-a-boo with me and taught me to hold one finger up. He thinks I'm saying he 's #1. HA.... A few days after my transplant, I was sitting up eating Cheerieos... I had a few set backs, but nothing major.
I throw kisses to Jesus in heaven for my good luck, and good health... and my life. Jesus loves me!
Today, I weigh just over 21 lbs, and I give my mom a real run. Mom said, "now she can see my true colors", I'm a healthy, fleshy, perfect, rosy pink cheeked boy!
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AARON RILEY ABBOTT'S FUN DRIVE FOR ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS
I had a liver transplant along with 23 other children in Atlanta's Egleston Hospital. The need for organ transplants continues to exceed the supply of organs. This is what my drive is all about. My Mom and I have three main goals. The first is raising the awareness of the shortage of organs for children like me. The second is getting families to recognize the need and talk about organ donation in their homes. Our goal is to articulate the importance of making your wishes known before a tragic situation arises, and to make organ donation a family topic. Our third goal, is supporting families. Mom and I know just how fortunate we have been and we want to give something to the families prior to us, and bring hope to the ones following us.
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To contact me, send email to maaaja@aol.com or click this link email
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