TORONTO – At just 11 years old, Isabella Church has been through more than most girls her age.
Twelve days ago she had her second liver transplant, but due to complications and short-term rejection of the new liver, Isabella will have to stay in the hospital for several more weeks to ensure the new organ functions properly.
It is a long process that involves a lot of medication, patience and hope.
Global News met with Isabella and her mother, Wendy, on Christmas Eve to share their story.
“After a normal delivery, everybody was happy with her weight. After about 6 days jaundice started and we were sent to our pediatrician who was unsure, so they sent us to McMaster,” said Wendy. “(McMaster) said she had biliary atresia.”
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Biliary atresia is a rare liver disease that starts in early infancy, according to the Canadian Liver Foundation. It’s a condition that isn’t genetic and it affects one out of every 10,000 to 20,000 infants.
The disease affects the bile duct from the liver that leads to the intestine and becomes damaged preventing the bile from leaving the liver, causing liver failure.
Children with the disease rarely survive beyond the age of two. As a result of the condition, Isabella was put on a transplant list.
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In September 2003 she received her first liver transplant and was doing well. But in April of this year complications arose and Isabella was diagnosed with cirrhosis. She required a new liver and was put on the transplant list in May.
Two weeks ago received her second liver transplant.
For the past three months SickKids has been her home and, for the first time, Isabella will be spending Christmas away from her family.
Due to complications, Isabella has not been able to go home, let alone leave her hospital room. She’s in isolation.
Isabella said what she will miss the most is making Christmas crafts with her mom and the rest of her siblings.
“We make a paper chain every year out of construction paper. We did do it, but because we had to change rooms because of transplant, the chain came down,” Wendy said. “We didn’t do it again because she just wasn’t in the right frame of mind.”
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Wendy said she and her daughter usually make cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, but they’ll have to miss out on that tradition this year as well.
Since the age of five, Isabella she has gone through 17 procedures, including four surgeries. Their hope now is that this liver with continue to take and Isabella will be able to go home — or at least to Ronald McDonald House where she can have her siblings visit and she can interact with other kids and their families.
“It’s not the best thing, but I am sure I was chosen to be sick for a reason,” Isabella said.
The journey has been difficult, but the 11-year-old is tough and has learned a lot through her experiences.
She has a few wise word to offer other children who are going through the same thing.
It’s been a long road for Isabella and her mother, but Wendy said it has brought the two of them closer together. As long as Isabella has been in the hospital, her mother has been by her side every single day.
“I’ve always said she is destined for something great because she came into this world screaming and loving life, so she is here for a reason. We will find her reason. She definitely has got some goodness in her and we will see where she goes,” Wendy said.
As for Isabella, she says her greatest strength and best gift this Christmas is her mother.
“She is almost my whole world.”
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