Bryce's Liver Transplant

Story

Andrew and Stephanie’s family journey started in June 2017, when at her 20-week ultrasound, they found out they were having a baby boy. That day, the ultrasound technician also noticed something off with his heart measurements. He was initially diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. From that point on it was a rollercoaster pregnancy filled with uncertainty and anxiety. However, despite the mountain ahead of them Andrew and Stephanie remained positive, educated themselves about the diagnosis, and showed incredible strength and faith each day. Bryce Paul Mullett was born on September 12, arriving eight weeks early and weighing 3.1 pounds. That first week in the NICU the left side of his heart miraculously grew to normal size and the doctors were able to rule out a congenital heart defect. After meeting with a variety of specialists Andrew and Stephanie learned that Bryce has Alagille Syndrome . Alagille Syndrome is a genetic disorder that can affect the liver, heart, and other parts of the body. One of the major features of Alagille syndrome is liver damage caused by abnormalities in the bile ducts. In Bryce’s first months of life he struggled with weight gain, jaundice, and itching. On May 7 he had two stints placed on each side of his pulmonary artery, and on May 21 he was listed for a liver transplant on the national donor transplant list. While waiting for a new liver Bryce has been in and out of the hospital for bloody stools that have gotten progressively worse. The doctors have been unable to find where the bleeding is coming from. During this time Bryce’s PELD (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease) score has increased and he was even matched to a liver that the doctors quickly determined posed a risk for disease transmission. Ultimately, the decision was made for Andrew to be Bryce’s living liver donor.Andrew is scheduled for surgery on August 7. A surgeon will remove approximately 30% of one of his liver lobes and immediately place it in Bryce. Organ donation is one of the most selfless gifts a person can give. It carries the same level of risk for the donor as does any other major surgery and will require two months of recovery time during which Andrew will not be able to work or even carry his son. For Bryce, receiving a liver transplant will have potentially life-altering benefits. However, it also means a lifetime of medication, frequent follow-up visits, and ongoing monitoring.This family has already been through so much and still has a long, arduous road ahead. We set up this Gofundme to help make things a little easier for them, and to show our care and support. Your contributions will go towards medical bills, transportation and lodging in Denver, and compensating for lost income for Andrew while he is recovering and for Stephanie while she is caring for both her son and her husband. Whether you decide to donate, share this page via social media, or do both, you will be providing a service that our family will be eternally thankful for.Stephanie and Andrew have shared much of their journey so far on CaringBridge  and will update the site as they are able in the coming weeks.Thank you for taking the time to read our story and thank you for any contribution you are able to make,Donna Perry, Brittany Ajroud, Katie Clements, and Andrea Thompson