UPDATE***

Five days ago, Maxwell was given a second chance at life through the incredible gift of a living liver transplant from his mom, Juliane.

Today, Juliane is finally home recovering, while Maxwell remains in the hospital continuing his healing journey. They are both now post-op day 5, adjusting to a new normal and praying for a brighter future.

This transplant wasn't a cure—but it gave Maxwell another chance. A chance to grow, to play, to dream, and to simply be a kid. The road ahead will be long, filled with appointments, medications, recovery, and challenges, but it is a road they now have the opportunity to walk together.

If you're able, please continue supporting the Malinao family by sharing their GoFundMe. Every share, donation, and prayer helps provide comfort and relief as they navigate this next chapter.

Please also keep Maxwell's siblings—Gray, Penelope, and Blake—in your prayers. They've been incredibly strong for their little brother and their superhero mom. This transition affects the entire family, and they need all the love and support we can give.

And to Justin—what an incredible husband and father. While standing beside Juliane and Maxwell through every obstacle, he continues to carry his family with unwavering strength. In the middle of it all, he has even taken the next step in his own future by applying to continue his education and advance his degree. He makes carrying so much responsibility look effortless, even though we know it isn't.

Please continue to pray, support, and share the Malinao family's story. Their courage, faith, and resilience are truly inspiring. They have given so much to so many people over the years. Now it's our turn to pour that love back into them tenfold.

They would never be the ones to ask for help, so I'm asking on their behalf.

From the bottom of my heart—and theirs—thank you for every prayer, every kind word, every donation, and every share. Your prayers have been working. Let's keep them coming. ❤️

BEFORE TRANSPLANT SURGERY:

Some children inspire you simply by being themselves. Maxwell is one of those children.

From the very beginning of his life, Maxwell has faced a battle that most of us can hardly imagine. Shortly after birth, he was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease that damages the liver and, without treatment, leads to liver failure. Since then, his life has been filled with hospital stays, specialist appointments, surgeries, and countless medical procedures—far more than any child should ever have to endure.

Today, Maxwell is waiting for the greatest gift imaginable: a life-saving liver transplant. Time is precious for children living with biliary atresia, and finding a living liver donor could give Maxwell the future every child deserves—a future filled with birthday candles, family adventures, and the simple joys of growing up.

Until that day comes, his family continues to meet every challenge with unwavering faith, hope, and love.

Yet if you met Maxwell, you would never guess the weight he carries. He is bright, adventurous, and wonderfully rambunctious. His infectious smile, playful spirit, and endless curiosity light up every room he enters. Whether he's chasing after his siblings, making everyone laugh, or finding excitement in the smallest moments, Maxwell lives with a joy that is nothing short of inspiring.

His strength isn't defined by his diagnosis or the number of procedures he's endured. It's found in his laughter, his resilience, and the way he continues to bring light to everyone around him.

The truth is, Maxwell isn't wishing for anything extraordinary. He's simply hoping for the opportunity to live the healthy childhood so many of us take for granted—to run, play, dream, and one day look back on this season not as the story that defined him, but as the story of the incredible people who came together to save his life.

Behind Maxwell stands an extraordinary family.

The Malinao family is a family of six rooted in unconditional love and selfless generosity. They are the people who show up without being asked, celebrate others' victories, stand beside friends in their darkest moments, and give freely of themselves without expecting anything in return.

Even while carrying the unimaginable weight of Maxwell's illness, they continue to pour love into everyone around them. Asking for help has never come naturally to them—but no family should have to walk this road alone. The emotional, physical, and financial burdens continue to grow. Between medical appointments, hospital admissions, medications, travel, and time away from work, the costs are overwhelming. And when a donor is found, there will still be surgery, recovery, and lifelong medical care ahead.

Today, we're asking for more than donations—we're asking you to help us spread Maxwell's story. Your contribution will help ease the financial worries on the Malinao family, allowing them to focus entirely on what matters most: being by Maxwell's side every step of the way.

Just as importantly, please share this page. A single share could reach the person willing to become Maxwell's living liver donor, someone who knows a potential donor, or someone who can connect this family with life-changing resources. You never know whose heart your share might reach.

If you're unable to give financially, you can still make an incredible difference by also completing the potential living donor form below or just sharing the following link that will allow anyone to see if they are a match for Max.

Most of all, please pray—for Maxwell, for his parents and siblings, for his medical team, and for the person who will one day make the selfless decision to become his donor.

Somewhere, there is a person carrying the gift that could save Maxwell's life.

Together, we believe Maxwell's story will not be defined by biliary atresia, but by the extraordinary community that came together to give one little boy the chance to live a long, healthy, beautiful life.

Thank you for standing beside the Malinao family with your prayers, generosity, and love.

Every prayer matters. Every donation helps. Every share brings hope.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." — Ephesians 3:20

Maxwell’s second chance