Baby Samuel James Howlett is up against a fight for his health at just over a week old.

Just days after birth, and multiple tests, it was determined that he has a very rare diseases called Gestational alloimmune liver disease and neonatal hemochromatosis, or GALD/NH (which is not well known in the medical field). Because of this, baby Samuel was medevac from The Janeway in St. John’s, NL, to the SickKids Hospital in Toronto, ON (June 24). His parents are flying up on this days also.

This page is to support the family and child. Regardless of the diagnose, it will be a long road ahead both emotionally and financially with what could be multiple trips to Ontario & accommodations. Please help support the Howlett/Doyle family during this difficult time.

Gestational alloimmune liver disease (GALD) has been established as the cause of fetal liver injury resulting in nearly all cases of NH. In GALD, sensitization of some women to a fetal liver antigen results in development of specific antifetal liver IgG antibodies. When delivered to the fetal circulation these antibodies bind to the antigen and activate the terminal complement cascade resulting in hepatocyte injury and death. GALD may produce subacute and chronic fetal liver injury (congenital cirrhosis) typical of NH. It may also produce acute injury and acute liver failure of the fetus and newborn, often with no iron overload or siderosis.