Drew's Story

Andy and Jonni Hart have been coming to Camp Taconic since the early 1990s. They've been raising their 5 kids here, and have been an invaluable asset to our Camp family. Their 3rd oldest, Drew, is struggling with a liver disease, and the Harts could greatly benefit from any assistance that you can contribute. Andy and Jonni have done so much to help our camp family over the years, and now it's our turn to help them.

When Drew was 4 weeks old, he was diagnosed with a rare childhood liver disease called Biliary Atresia. At that time, he had a surgical procedure called A Kasai which connected part of his small intestine to his liver, so that enzymes, which are neccesary for digestion could flow properly.  At that time, his family was told that they should be optimistic, but realistic. Even kids with a succesful A Kasai live with chronic complications and 80% of them eventually will need a transplant.  In spite of the odds, over the course of 8 years, Drew was remarkably well. As the Harts were preparing to leaving for Taconic this summer, his liver enzymes were elevated and his doctors felt it was neccesary to perform a liver biopsy. Since that time, Drew has been in 3 different hospitals, had many procedures, and part of his liver biopsy was sent to doctors in London. Finally, after weeks of no answers, despite the excellent care from the best doctors all over the country, it has been determined that he has at least one very significant obstruction in the bile duct that is causing severe damage. He is going to have drains insterted into his bile ducts in an attempt to allow for bile to flow freely. The drains, if succesful, will be in anywhere from one month to one year. If this does not clear the obsturction, then surgeries will follow.

We are asking our entire Camp Taconic family and community to help in whatever way they can.