19/08/2024
“Happy 3rd Birthday, Liver!” Jonah exclaimed in anticipation of today’s operation celebration.
It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since a sliver of mama’s liver replaced Jonah’s damaged, native liver, and he and daddy moved into the hospital for an extended stay.
During Jonah’s first year of life and really, first year post-transplant, it felt like we lived an entire lifetime — sickness, hospitalizations, family-time divided, pokes, employment changes, unknowns. Fast forward a couple years and time almost feels like it’s slowed.
In this last year, Jonah’s new liver has been so healthy! He continues to get monthly-to-bimonthly lab draws, which show an occasional, mild EBV flare up. His biggest health issues this year have been two mild bouts of the ‘vid and random skin rashes.
As his scar continues to fade, we could almost forget how difficult his Biliary Atresia diagnosis and liver transplant was for our entire family. But along comes an emotional lab day or fever and we all get a bit triggered (our entire household is healing from the ‘vid so it’s been a dramatic entry to this special day).
Jonah truly is living a fabulously normal three-year-old life. He admires his best friend and big brother, Caleb, and adores his new baby brother, Asher. He learned to swim this summer, loves music, enjoys books and learning alongside his brother, has the wildest imagination, and wants to play all the sports.
We are grateful this journey has led us to where we are now — prioritizing family time and health, positioning ourselves as advocates for our Biliary Atresia and transplant communities, and testifying to the insurmountable love God has shown us through it all.
Happy 3rd Birthday, Liver!
P.S. tag us in your JJ or Green apparel today
