Ava Wilcocks' journey with Biliary Atresia

My name is Crystal Wilcocks and and for those of you that know our family, know that we aren't ones to ask for help, that we are the type that believe in hard work. So this isn't any easy thing to do, but Ava's journey is one where her medical needs are going to require more than the family alone can provide, and so for that reason we are reaching out to our extended family and friends. Ava is my niece. She is my brother's youngest daughter and for those of you that don't know, this is Ava's story...

Ava was born Nov 4,21. At her 2 month check up (Jan 4/22) with our family dr he noticed she was a “little” yellow, he sent us for lab work and immediately to a paediatrician in Yorkton who ran some follow up blood work, chest x-ray and a ultrasound. On Jan 6/22 we were being admitted into JPCH (Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital) where a weeks worth of tests were ran to try and find a diagnosis. On Jan 10/22 the Drs were pretty sure they knew what we were all up against but a final diagnosis wouldn’t come till they could do surgery. So on Jan 14/22 @ 8am we held our breath as the surgeon took Ava into surgery, and a long few hours later we knew it was Biliary Atresia! Ava’s gullbladder was removed and they took her small intestine and attatched it directly to her liver so the bile had a direct path out of her liver.

Ava has been showing everyone she’s strong and mighty and is stubborn as hell! This girl has had complication after complication and if a test can come back abnormal and growing weird things it’s Ava’s!

Due to all Avas complications, back in Nov/22 she was officially referred to Edmontons Children’s Hospital (Stollery) where she will undergo her transplant assessment in March and her dad will go threw his tests to try match to be her living donor!

This is officially where we are at.

This is one of the hardest things we have gone threw as a family and it’s taken us a long while to digest.

Kourtney has jumped into the role of medical mama and keeps everyone and everything on track. This is no easy task with Ava's medication and made more difficult with formula shortages.

While we all trying to prepare for what comes next. The realization of the financial demands of trips to Edmonton, the liver transplant which is going to require Dustin, Kourtney, Nora and Ava to relocate to Edmonton for surgery and post opp care. With Kourtney owing her own business it will mean they lose her income altogether while they are gone.

The family is looking for your help with the costs of living in Edmonton, and the out of pocket medical expenses that will come for years to come following her surgery ( and possibly Dustin if he's a match to donate )

Every little bit will help Dustin and Kourtney financially so they can focus on the Ava and big sister Nora.