Emily Santillan’s Liver Transplant
Donation protected
On April 6, 2007, I was made a big sister. Emily Aeris Mallari Santillan was brought into this world, a special gift from God. There are many attributes that make Emily unique. One of them being her liver.
When she was two months old my mother took Emily in for a normal check up, but brought up to the doctor that Emily’s complexion was strangely yellow. After running some labs it was discovered that her bilirubin was very high. She was then admitted to Lucile Packard's hospital diagnosed with Biliary Atresia.
Having only recently turning three, I didn’t understand that there was the possibility that I’d lose the little sister I had just been given. Emily was baptized in the NICU, in case God decided that the world was not worthy of my sister. Kasai Surgery was done on Emily, and it was successful.
There are many milestones that Kasai Surgery children have during their youth. Most Kasai Surgery patients don’t even make it to their first birthday. Emily surpassed that. At age six, Kasai surgery patients likely need a liver transplant done. Emily surpassed that. She and her liver continued to stay strong.
However, although she remains strong, her liver could only do so for so long. Recently, Emily was admitted to Lucile Packard yet again. She has been diagnosed with Hepato Pulmonary Syndrome, a rare condition for a child to have. Her liver disease, over time has caused Emily’s body to not properly receive oxygen, making her have shortness of breath.
Those who visit Emily in the hospital can see her with a nasal oxygen cannula that she has become dependent on. Without it her oxygen levels can drop to the low 70s. Her lips turn purple in less than ten minutes, and you can hear her heavily breathing from her mouth.
Emily is currently on the donor list for a liver and is patiently waiting along with our family.
Her liver transplant journey officially began on August 26 and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has been our second home.
Even if you canʼt contribute monetarily, we thank you for taking the time to read her story and keeping her at even for just this moment in your thoughts and in your prayers.
Thanks so much for anything and everything you can do for her.
❤️ CeCe, Penny, Don and Erica
When she was two months old my mother took Emily in for a normal check up, but brought up to the doctor that Emily’s complexion was strangely yellow. After running some labs it was discovered that her bilirubin was very high. She was then admitted to Lucile Packard's hospital diagnosed with Biliary Atresia.
Having only recently turning three, I didn’t understand that there was the possibility that I’d lose the little sister I had just been given. Emily was baptized in the NICU, in case God decided that the world was not worthy of my sister. Kasai Surgery was done on Emily, and it was successful.
There are many milestones that Kasai Surgery children have during their youth. Most Kasai Surgery patients don’t even make it to their first birthday. Emily surpassed that. At age six, Kasai surgery patients likely need a liver transplant done. Emily surpassed that. She and her liver continued to stay strong.
However, although she remains strong, her liver could only do so for so long. Recently, Emily was admitted to Lucile Packard yet again. She has been diagnosed with Hepato Pulmonary Syndrome, a rare condition for a child to have. Her liver disease, over time has caused Emily’s body to not properly receive oxygen, making her have shortness of breath.
Those who visit Emily in the hospital can see her with a nasal oxygen cannula that she has become dependent on. Without it her oxygen levels can drop to the low 70s. Her lips turn purple in less than ten minutes, and you can hear her heavily breathing from her mouth.
Emily is currently on the donor list for a liver and is patiently waiting along with our family.
Her liver transplant journey officially began on August 26 and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has been our second home.
Even if you canʼt contribute monetarily, we thank you for taking the time to read her story and keeping her at even for just this moment in your thoughts and in your prayers.
Thanks so much for anything and everything you can do for her.
❤️ CeCe, Penny, Don and Erica
Fundraising team (2)
Erica Mallari
Organizer
San Jose, CA
Don Brian Santillan
Team member