On 13/11/25, we welcomed the most beautiful baby boy into the world. We named him Koa, a name that means “brave one” or “warrior” in Hawaiian. Little did we know just how much meaning that name would hold from the very beginning.

After two amazing weeks at home, Koa was admitted for tests after his health visitor raised concerns about jaundice. At just 2 weeks and 3 days old, he was airlifted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Two days later, our tiny boy underwent life-saving surgery and was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease.

Koa had a procedure called the Kasai, where surgeons created new bile ducts using part of his small intestine, giving him a chance at life.

Since coming home, Koa has been admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital four times, treated for cholangitis, a serious and potentially life-threatening infection following his surgery. Each time has been terrifying, but the care and support from the teams in both Birmingham and Altnagelvin have carried us through some of the hardest days of our lives.

Koa’s journey is far from over. There are still many challenges ahead, and the possibility of a liver transplant remains uncertain.

That’s why we are raising money, to give back to the hospitals and wards that have done so much for Koa, to support the incredible staff who save lives every day, and to help other families facing similar battles.

The two charities we've chosen to raise money for are Altnagelvin Parents Support Group and Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity .

We have a series of events lined up to help raise as much money as possible.

Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world to us.

Thank you for supporting our boy and being part of Koa’s journey

#TeamKoa