Please save our son baby Nicholas

On 10 July 2016 our beautiful baby boy came into this world. Little did we know that in just 8 weeks time, our world would crash into millions of pieces. A blood test showed that Nicholas in fact was born with a life threatening disease called Biliary Atresia, a chronic condition that affects the drainage of bail from the liver and eventually causes liver failure. It meant that without an urgent surgery at 9 weeks of age and intense medical care to follow Nicholas had months to live. To us, his family, the news has been devastating. This disease is not genetic, it is not something that mum did or did not do during pregnancy, it just happens and it can indeed happen to any baby born to healthy, active adults. It is totally random.


Unfortunately, for Nicholas the surgery did not work.  What has followed are endless blood tests, hospitalisations and more invasive procedures. Now at five months of age, little Nicholas needs an urgent liver transplant to save his life. His health is rapidly deteriorating and he requires 24/7 specialised care. Without the new liver, Nicholas won't make it past his first birthday.


But ... due to devastating organ donor shortage in Australia, the queue on the transplant list is long and hideous. Until Nicholas is very sick (in intensive care on life support), he won't become a number one priority. We can only pray and hope that his gift of life will come on time and he won't be too sick to be transplanted.    
 

Even tough Nicholas's dad has now also had to stop work to help us manage Nicholas' condition along with his very active four year old brother, we are not asking for ourselves. We are urging you to donate to Liver Kids Australia, the charity organisation that helps kids like Nicholas to make it through. Their key role is to raise awareness of childhood liver disease in Australia; and this, in turn, will shine light on Nicholas's journey and will help him get his second chance in life on time.

Please donate (every dollar counts) and share on your page (the power of many). We all repost silly things every day without much thought, please help save our baby son Nicholas and many like him.


And if you ever wonder, what it's like to be a 'liver parent' .... imagine

Imagine being told your child is seriously ill.

Imagine crying until you think there's nothing left.

Imagine feeling like you've been punched in the stomach and wandering the corridors, as if your life was on pause.

Imagine signing a consent form knowing that death is an option.

Imagine having to hand over your child to surgeons over and over for endless hours and waiting.

Imagine your child covered in wires with a machine breathing for them.

Imagine the terror ...

Imagine the pain of having to leave your baby in the care of strangers and not be able to sleep by their side.

Imagine standing by as your baby's body is pumped full of medication.

Imagine seeing your child resuscitated and been so close to leaving you.

Imagine holding your baby down countless times while someone sticks needles in them while they scream.

Imagine the guilt ...

Imagine keep being told the percentage chances that your child might survive or leave you.

Imagine not being able to leave the house for fear of infection.

Imagine not being able to make any plans apart from hospital visits.

Imagine being stuck in isolation and not see anything but four walls for days on end.

Imagine perfect strangers passing comment about your daughter/son.

And with the emptiness ...

Imagine how fragile and precious life feels.

Don't pity, don't sympathise, just spread awareness. We beg you to donate and make this compaign viral. We also did not know this world even existed ... but through your donation YOU can save many lives and our Nicholas!

In appreciation for your support,

Nicholas, mum & dad, older brother Kosta.