Support Alaia's Fight Against Biliary Atresia

I've fought long and hard to get to this point! I've always been a very private person, seldomly posting on social media but today is the day I humble myself and step outside my comfort zone for the sake of my child - Alaia.

At just 6 weeks old, our sweet baby girl was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia. When a baby has biliary atresia, bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder is blocked. This causes the bile to be trapped inside the liver, quickly causing damage and scarring of the liver cells (cirrhosis), and eventually leading to liver failure.

At just 54 days old, she underwent her first procedure called the Kasai, which was performed to try to help drive the flow of bile out of the liver to prevent further damage. Unfortunately for Alaia, this procedure did not work as intended and we were told she would need a liver transplant before the age of 1.

Alaia has been in and out of the hospital between (Oishei) Buffalo and Pittsburgh (UPMC) in an attempt to keep her stable and healthy while she waits on the deceased donor transplant list.

Due to Alaia's medical fragility, she cannot attend daycare, and because of her many appointments and admissions, her dad and I have missed many days of work. Time spent with our other children Dj (15) and Elijah (6) has unfortunately taken a hit too.

Today at 9 months, as we sit in the hospital for yet another admission and her condition worsens, I felt I would be of disservice to my child if I didn't at least try to get her story out there and get any support from the community that we can get!

Fortunately for Alaia, she is eligible to have a living donor donation. Meaning, anybody (who meets certain criteria) could give the gift of liver donation to Alaia. The liver is one of the only organs that completely regenerates and heals itself post donation!

This post is a plea for help from our friends, family, and supporters!! Whether it be just a prayer! Or a share!!! We need to help Alaia find a living donor ASAP so that she can get back to being a baby!!

Below is a link regarding organ donation and to selflessly apply to be considered as a living donor.

Please include: ALAIA OWENS 08/02/23

https://www.chp.edu/our-services/transplant/liver/living-donor

Any gift big or small will help Alaia with her ongoing expenses both pre and post transplant!!! Thank you in advance for all the support!!