Jan Ciryl was born on September 23, 2003. He was born with a very rare liver disease called biliary atresia,a condition where the liver does not have bile ducts. He needed liver transplant in order to survive and live a normal life.Pediatric liver transplants can only be done outside the Philippines and costs around 3 to 4 million pesos.When Jan Ciryl was born on September 23, 2003, he had a lot of injections for two weeks because he had meconium staining. His skin became yellow in color so me and my husband Ronnie were worried. We brought JC to a doctor near our house.The doctor said that it was only a physiological jaundice. But his tummy got bigger at the same time the yellowing of the eyes and skin continued. We consulted an infant specialist and gastroentoentorologists. JC had a lot more laboratory tests. Ultrasound of the hepatobiliary system and determination of serum bilirubin and SGPT. No medications was prescribed then. Until at two months of age, he was still jaundiced. Ultrasound revealed non-visualization of the gall bladder. Direct bilirubin was 48 % of the total bilirubin. SGPT was elevated. Then he had his liver biopsy and it revealed that it was suggestive of biliary atresia and he was immediately referred for Kasai procedure. For a couple years, our family thought that the Kasai worked for him, the jaundice was a little cleared and the stool was kind of okay. But it was not what we expected. The problem was still there. JC's disease will never be cured unless he undergoes liver transplant. We were racing against time then. We were so much afraid that the disease might kill him anytime. Such liver transplant operation is not done in our country. We needed to bring JC in a nearby country for the transplant. The most difficult part was how to get the funds needed for the transplant cost. We met a lot of difficulties regarding JC's condition. He'd been hospitalized several times. He also had asthma attacks every now and then. For over five years of our battle, we came to a point that we could not do anything about JC's condition. We still have three other children to be taken cared of so...what happened at first was we have given up. Though, we were always there to bring him to doctors in times of need...we would seldom cry and... there was lost of strength and at the same time faith to our dear Almighty. Until I received an email from Ms. Jesilou Matubis inviting us to a photo exhibit in which biliary atresia babies would be the exhibit's beneficiary in April of 2009. The same night, we prayed and prayed and prayed. And asked our Lord for his guidance and grace. The next day we woke up, we were ready to be part of the photo exhibit. With the help of Lift Babies Foundation and the Matubis family, we were able to start the fund raising campaign for JC's liver transplant operation. During the photo exhibit, we've met families who have gone through the same situation. We were inspired by their stories especially the Sultan's struggle. We were definitely inspired also by Jeremaia's story. With God's divine intervention, amazing grace and provisions...we began to continue the battle. Promising ourselves to never give up whatever difficulty crosses our way. Believing that God is going to lead the way. Thus; FAITH to our Lord God is restored. From then on, we never got lost. The miracle of our Lord was shown to us since then. Carlos family saw our posts here in FB and Mr. Darwin Carlos sent me a message and told me that if in case we need help, they are willing to assist us. We met the Carloses then...again inspired by Rainier's story...gave a lot more strength and conviction for us to continue looking for possible help. We then began to raise funds in different ways. We truly proved the goodness of our dear God for providing us compassionate and charitable people. Difficulties came across our way...denials and rejections but still we continued to look for more help from different people and organizations from all walks of life. Literally, we begged help. But because we always kept our faith to God, we were able to raise funds that would able to have JC and his father Ronnie (as his liver donor)undergo pre-laboratory work-ups in preparation for the transplant operation. Unfortunately, we met another trial. Ronnie was not capable to be a liver donor for JC. It really devastated us for we were having the pre-labs already for three months. And what was came flashing into my mind then was who would volunteer to give part of his liver to our son JC. That was the toughest part. But because our God is very magnificent and merciful, JC's uncle Jasper volunteered to be his liver donor. Laboratory tests again were done for JC's liver donor. (his uncle Jasper) Fortunately, both of their lab test results were good. Fund raising...fund raising...fund raising again...And in between the months of September to November of 2009, JC was hospitalized several times. Liver transplant operation schedule was postponed three times. Some fund were used for JC's confinement. But because we really believe that we do not have to worry on how big our problem is but we believe how great our God is...we were able to bring JC here at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital on December 3, 2009. The liver transplant operation was done December 15. Though there were some complications before, and he had to stay at the Liver ICU for almost two months and again at the general ward for almost another two months...doctors said that JC's condition is stable as a whole. According to his doctors, wbc and platelet count are quite low but this is due to his enlarged spleen and has to be stabilized for now. His liver function showed great improvement every week. Praise God indeed! And at this point our hospital bill has reached its high to 1.950 million NT dollars and we're short for around NT$ 400 thousand...still our God is truly great. He is still using a lot of people here in Kaohsiung to help us. GLORY TO GOD INDEED! "IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU." 1 Thes. 5: 18
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