KSHB 41: Parkville organization inspiring hope, helping liver transplant families
By Ariel Rothfield
Nayeli Noriega is a nine-month-old who loves to watch people and listen to music.
Instead of crawling around at home, she has been in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
When she was about eight weeks old, Nayeli's parents noticed she wasn't acting or looking normal. After taking her to the hospital and running tests, doctors diagnosed Nayeli with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver disease that prevents the bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder.
The Biliary Atresia eventually caused Nayeli's liver to go into failure. She received a liver transplant and has since been in the hospital fighting to get stronger.
The Noriega family turned to a local organization for financial and emotional support.
Kenneth Wilson founded Two 12 Sycamore after he was released from the hospital. Like Nayeli, he received a liver transplant in 2013 and had complications.
Hospital staff at Children's Mercy say besides the financial aid, Wilson helps families like the Noriega's find hope.
Read the full story via 41 Action News
Learn more about Pediatric Liver Transplants at Children's Mercy