Gabriel Walker Liver Transplant

Gabriel David Walker, born March 15, 2013 after a traumatic birth was afighter from day one. Molly & Marquis, Gabriel's parents had suffered in the hours after his birth with uncertainty as the doctors worked to solve many of Gabriel's initial issues. After several stressful days in the hospital, Gabriel came home to meet his older brother and sister. 
Gabriel's diagnosis didn't come until several weeks later. It took many doctors and hospital stays to determine that his prolonged jaundice and unidentified skin bumps were a result of Alagille Syndrome. 


Alagille Syndrome is a cureless disease. ALGS is a very rare genetic disorder that can affect the liver, heart, and other parts of the body. It can cause a variety of complications, including liver damage caused by abnormalities in the bile ducts, to heart problems such as impaired blood flow from the heart into the lungs. The disorder may also affect the blood vessels within the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) and the kidneys. Problems associated with Alagille syndrome generally become evident in infancy or early childhood. The severity of the disorder varies among affected individuals, even within the same family. Symptoms range from so mild as to go unnoticed to severe heart and/or liver disease requiring transplantation.

Gabriel is currently on the liver transplant list because although the performance of his liver is normal at this time it could potentially
deteriorate without a transplant over time. His quality of life is currently being drastically impacted because of his unsoothable itching that negatively impacts the quality and duration of sleep through the night. In addition, he is at greater risk for non-contact or non-tramatic fractures because of the brittleness of his bones from lack of vitamin absorption. At this time the transplant will greatly improve the quality of his life be removing most if not all of the major symptoms that he is currently struggling with.


Gabe is 5 years old and has an older sister (Bella - 10), brother(Trae -7) & younger brother (Max - 3)whom he loves to play with. He also enjoys attending Pre-K here at EC and his favorite food is pancakes!



      
The campaign is to support the Walker family when they get the call for transplant. Gabriel will require a stay in the intensive care unit after the surgery followed by weeks to potentially months as an inpatient at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Upon leaving the hospital the family will need to remain in Cincinnati for at least a year while he is continously monitored by his doctors at Childrens.