GOOD NEWS UPDATE: The family is happy to share with you the news that on July 11th Benny received his “gift of life” – his much-needed liver transplant thanks to the unselfish love of his mom, Angela, who was his donor.

The Stanley family was forever changed by the birth of their fourth child, Benny. He was a beautiful boy who at birth appeared so healthy, but over the first month, he steadily lost weight and began turning a deep shade of yellow. At five weeks, Benny was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, a rare disease that causes bile blockage in the liver eventually leading to cirrhosis and liver failure. He underwent his first liver surgery to restore bile flow at 48-days-old.
Since his initial hospitalization and surgery, Benny has had an additional surgery to repair a cleft palate, and has had four hospitalizations due to liver infections which have become increasingly severe. Oral and IV antibiotics are becoming less effective at preventing and treating his liver infections. Due to the seriousness of Benny’s condition, his only hope for a cure is a liver transplant.
Benny’s mother, Angela, is being evaluated as a potential living organ donor and the test results so far are promising. Anyone who knows Angela would not be surprised at her selfless love in her willingness to do whatever possible to help her family.
Liver transplantation is complex and requires frequent testing and long hospitalizations for both Benny and Angela if she is selected to be the donor. Even with health insurance, the family will face many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits, extensive travel to and from the transplant center and the costly immunosuppressant medications that Benny will need to take for the rest of his life.
As caregiver to Benny, Angela has exhausted all of her paid work leave. The time off necessary to care for Benny and her other three children will be financially devastating for the family. A fundraising goal of $40,000 has been set to help relieve some of this stress.
To help with some of these uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in Benny’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Mid-Atlantic Liver Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.
Everyone who meets Benny is immediately drawn in by his beautiful smile and cheerful disposition. We know that he will continue to bring such joy to everyone’s lives! On behalf of the Stanley family, we thank you so much for your generosity and especially for your continued prayers for Benny.