The Beginning
Even though their baby girl was still laughing and playing, something was terribly wrong – little Brianna’s stomach continued to grow.
As her parents endured the agonizing wait for the test results, they had no idea what to expect. A million questions raced through their minds. Could their baby’s condition be treated? Was she going to be okay?
Happy News
Angela and Jonah Robbins had been an ideal couple for many years. They were over the moon when they found out that they were expecting a baby. They were even more ecstatic when they found out that they were expecting a baby girl.
They both eagerly anticipated her arrival, reading books and attending birthing classes in preparation for their new addition.
Fine On The Outside
When Brianna was born, she seemed perfectly healthy. Her parents were overjoyed, and they spent hours marveling at her tiny fingers and toes. They brought her home from the hospital a few days later, eager to start their new life together as a family.
What these doting parents didn’t know is that although their baby looked normal on the outside, something serious was happening on the inside that the ultrasound didn’t pick up.
Breast Milk Business
Brianna looked like any other baby girl, and she had a healthy appetite. She would always fuss during feeding time. Angela noticed that her baby's stomach was always bloated.
She thought maybe her breast milk was not being digested by the infant. The new mother had no clue that the real problem was much more severe.
Bigger Problems
Angela tried using gripe water, but the baby was still bloated. As the days went by, Angela noticed that Brianna's stomach was getting bigger. Angela started to get frantic and told her husband that they needed to take her to the hospital immediately.
Jonah thought that his wife was overreacting and told her to calm down, “We will take her in the morning if she is still bloated,” he said. The young father didn’t know that his carelessness would cost him.
A Strange Sight
When Angela went to check on her baby in the morning she got the shock of her life. What she found made her gasp and she shrieked out in shock.
What had happened to her baby? What was this strange creature laying down in her child's cot? Angela called for her husband and he came racing into the room.
My Childs’ Body
What he saw made the grown man fall to his knees in tears. What had happened to his child? He looked up and down the cot. But there were no clues as to what happened.
Brianna's body lay there, her skin was yellow and her stomach was even bigger than before. She didn’t look like the same sweet baby they had put down in the crib the night before.
What Happened To My Baby
Brianna's skin began to turn a strange shade of yellow in the morning sunshine. Angela and Jonah didn't know what to think. Jonah assumed that it was just a normal newborn issue. His wife screamed at him “I told you we should have gone to the hospital last night!”
Jonah looked guilty and tried to calm her down, “Let’s go right now,” he said, as he grabbed Brianna's diaper bag and headed for the door.
Something Isn’t Right
The frantic parents went straight to the emergency ward and demanded to be seen. Luckily there was a pediatrician on call and he was able to look at the little baby.
The doctors did several tests but they couldn’t say precisely what was wrong with her. The head pediatrician – Dr. Hanson – was a short, kind man. He said, “It could be serious, it may be something minor, we can't say for sure, for now, we have given her some supplements to stabilize her immunity.” They would have to wait for the test results to be certain.
Sudden Cause
The worried parents returned home with their sick child. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. She was oblivious to her appearance.
Angela prayed for her little girl to be okay. She watched her like a hawk over the next few days. But when the yellowing didn't go away, they knew something was very wrong.
Swelling Stomach
Brianna's stomach continued to grow. Although she had a huge abnormality on her abdomen. She was still laughing and playing with her parents while they tried to get their mind off the pending test results.
Was their little girl going to be okay? Would there be an available treatment for their child? They had no idea what to expect.
Results Are In
After a series of tests, the doctors diagnosed Brianna with Biliary atresia. The news hit Angela and Jonah hard. They were devastated that their precious baby girl was sick.
The doctors explained that Brianna's condition meant that she did not have a gallbladder and that her liver was not functioning properly. Without treatment, her condition would only worsen, and she would eventually need a liver transplant to survive.
How To Manage
Angela and Jonah were beside themselves with worry. They spent countless hours researching Brianna's condition and reaching out to doctors for advice.
They took her to specialist after specialist, hoping for a miracle. They were dying inside knowing that their baby girl was going through so much pain. How could this have happened to them?
These Are Your Options
Many doctors told the parents that a liver donor would be the best option to save little Brianna. The parents knew that it would be a difficult task to mind a match and that the waiting list was long.
Months went by without a donor being found. Angela and Jonah were growing increasingly desperate. They watched helplessly as their daughter grew weaker and weaker with each passing day.
Choose Wisely
One night, Jonah sat down with Angela and made a life-changing decision. He wanted to donate his own liver to save Brianna's life.
Angela was hesitant at first, but Jonah was insistent. He was a perfect match for Brianna, and he knew that he was her best chance at survival. Angela was impressed at her husband's bravery.
A Fathers Sacrifice
As the days passed, they still hadn't found a suitable donor. Jonah reapproached his wife with the offer to donate his kidney to his daughter.
Jonah was determined to save his daughter's life. He was adamant to donate a part of his own liver to her. Whatever the risk, he was willing to go through it for his baby girl.
A Guardian Angel
Finally, an organ donor was found just in time. It was an old man, Arthur, who had signed up to be an organ donor. He was old but his liver was still healthy enough to be used and was going to be used for two little girls.
It was a bittersweet moment for Angela and Jonah as they knew that someone else had to suffer in their life for their daughter to live. Arthur was a hero.
It Takes A Team
The doctors planned the procedure carefully. Brianna's body was small and frail. They had to ensure every precaution was taken so that she wouldn’t pick up any infections.
Angela and Jonah spent some time in the hospital church chapel. They were not particularly religious, but today they needed all the blessings they could possibly get.
Tick Tock
The transplant surgery was scheduled, and Angela and Jonah were on edge the entire time. They paced the waiting room, praying for good news. Jonah was getting impatient.
It was a difficult and stressful time for the couple. They spent hours in the waiting room, hoping for Brianna's safe recovery. The doctors were taking a long time, and every minute felt like an eternity. Jonah decided to walk inside the theater to find out what was going on.
Hospital Drama
All of a sudden Angela heard screams coming from the theater. She turned her face in horror and saw six big security guards dragging her husband out of the operating theater.
“Let me go!” he shouted, “that’s my daughter in there.” Jonah struggled to get loose. They had caught him and were not letting go.
Ward Fight
The security guards were not playing around and held him fast. Angela begged them to let him go. “Please try and understand our predicament, it’s been hours with no news,” she sobbed.
Suddenly, a white coat flashed behind the security guards. It was the doctor. He looked angry and his face was red, “Mr. Robbins, this kind of behavior will not be tolerated. We understand your concern, but you are disturbing our work process. If you do not compose yourself, we will have to remove you from the premises!” he said sternly.
A Broken Man
Jonah just stared at him like a deer caught in the headlights. He was breathing heavily. He hung his head in shame and the guards realized he wasn’t a threat and let him go.
They disappeared with the doctor back behind the theater doors. Jonah had to behave himself if he wanted the doctors to do their best. How could he have been so stupid, he could have jeopardized the whole operation.
Time Goes Slowly
The doctors were taking longer than expected in the operating room, and Angela and Jonah were getting more and more anxious. Two long hours had passed since the altercation with the security guards.
Finally, they saw the doors to the theater room open. Three nurses walked out and looked straight in their direction. Would it be good news?
They Won't Say
The nurses whispered something to each other and quickly disappeared behind another set of doors. Angela sighed in despair, they were gone before she had a chance to hail them down.
Who could give her information? Where were the doctors? The frantic mother didn’t know that she was searching for news she didn’t want to hear.
Hard To Find The Words
When the doctors finally emerged, they looked exhausted. Angela's eyes opened wide when she saw them. The doctor saw her and looked away.
“Doctor doctor,” she jumped up and ran towards them, “How is she? Did the liver take in her body?” The worried mother searched the doctor's face for answers to her child's wellbeing.
Sitting On The Fence
The operation had taken eight grueling hours, and it had been touch and go the entire time. The doctors warned Angela and Jonah that it would take time for Brianna's body to heal and that there was no guarantee that the transplant would be successful.
The parents didn’t know what to say. They were just glad that she had made it through the surgery.
On A Whim
For the next few days, Angela and Jonah watched over Brianna, taking shifts to make sure that she was never alone. They were terrified that something would go wrong, but they refused to leave her side.
She looked like an angel, in a deep sleep, undisturbed by her afflictions. Would their baby girl wake up from her horrifying ordeal?
Eyes Open
When Brianna finally woke up, she was groggy and confused. She looked a bit strange in the incubator with all the pipes and drips on her. It was a scary sight for a small baby. But as soon as she saw her parents, she smiled and reached out for them. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything to Angela and Jonah.
Slowly but surely, Brianna began to recover. Her skin lost its yellow tint, and she started to gain weight. Angela and Jonah were overjoyed to see their daughter growing stronger every day. They knew that they had been given a second chance, and they weren't going to waste it. Angela knew that they were not out of the woods yet and that she had to take extra care of her special needs baby.
A New Life
Despite her newfound health, Brianna was still a bit sickly. She required special care and attention, and Angela and Jonah were happy to provide it. They spent countless hours at doctor's appointments, making sure that Brianna was getting the best possible care. The extra expenses were slowly starting to build up and Jonah wondered how he was going to pay for it all.
Over the next few weeks, Brianna slowly started to recover. She looked more like a regular girl. As the months went by, Brianna grew stronger and healthier. Angela and Jonah were grateful for every day that they had with their daughter, and they made sure to cherish every moment.
A Special Story
Looking back on their journey, Angela and Jonah knew that they had been through a trauma that they would never forget. But they also knew that they had come out the other side stronger. Despite the trauma they had been through, Angela and Jonah felt closer than ever.
As Brianna grew stronger, they started to make plans for the future. They talked about taking her on trips, teaching her to swim, and watching her take her first steps. They were excited to see what the future held for their little family. And as they watched Brianna grow and thrive, they knew that they had truly experienced a miracle. They knew that there would be more challenges ahead, but they were ready to face them together. They were a family, and family sticks together through thick and thin.