Annistyn K.

Biliary Atresia

Annistyn Kate was born on October 1, 2012, and shortly after was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia (BA). At 2 months old, Annistyn Kate’s mom, Meghan, was told that her daughter needed a major operation called a Kasai procedure. Family and friends rushed to the hospital to be there for Meghan and when Annistyn Kate woke up. All Meghan could do was sit in the waiting room and pray that the surgery would be a success and that her daughter would have a normal life. The procedure took around nine hours and the recovery time was a week. The doctors were pleased with how well she was recovering so they sent her home. After two days of being home, Annistyn Kate was back in the hospital with cholangitis (a liver infection) and treatment consisting of 14 days on IV antibiotics. She was released from the hospital on December 23rd but unfortunately was back on Christmas night. This time she was in the hospital for five days. The entire experience was traumatic for Meghan. She couldn’t hold her baby to comfort her and when she was able to she had to be extremely careful with her cords and drain tubes. Meghan was powerless to help Annistyn Kate, but she found strength through her daughter. Annistyn Kate has been hospitalized several times due to her liver disease, but overall has been lucky in her fight with BA. At the time of her diagnosis, they did not believe the Kasai had been successful and felt like she would have to have a transplant before the age of one. Any fever or viral illness can quickly send her to the hospital for IV antibiotics to protect her liver. The Kasai procedure was only a temporary fix and one day she will need a lifesaving liver transplant. Annistyn Kate is now three years old and loves playing outside, being with her friends, watching Dora and walking in the Liver Life Walk! She even likes to take her daily medicine all by herself now. She is growing into such a strong, loving individual and her family is blessed each day to watch her grow! With over 100 liver diseases, so many, like Annistyn Kate and her family, are continuing to hope for medical breakthroughs.