Gibson started out life in the NICU with breathing and blood sugar issues. Those soon resolved and he developed jaundice. He was released from the hostpital at a week old. A few months later we noticed that he was getting more yellow again and took him to the doctor. This began our journey into the world of Biliary Atresia. It is a liver issue with an unknown cause.
Babies are born with normal bile ducts and then they go away. There is a procedue called the Kasai, named after the doctor that developed it, that if done early enough can help the liver recover and function in a somewhat normal way. Gibson had this surgery at 8 weeks. The surgeon was hopeful that Gibson would not ever need a liver transplant or only later in life.
July came around and Gibson got more yellow again and his belly got big making it hard for him to breathe. Gibson and Christa flew down to Stanford to get Gibson evaluated for a transplant. Gibson was added to the list to get a transplant a less than a week after they arrived. One week after arriving Gibson had a new liver. He left the hostpital in one week, a record for the hospital, we think.
Updates (8)
December 3, 2025
Gibson had a liver biopsy at the beginning of the year. The transplant team ordered it simply as a routine check to make sure everything was still doing well. Unfortunately, that check was expensive, but we were very grateful to receive an after-insurance discount through the Children’s Hospital Fund. (A huge thank you to everyone who donates to the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals here in Northwest Oregon.) Thankfully, the results were good—just a few minor issues that the team noted, with no follow-up needed.Gibson has since transitioned to an extended-release anti-rejection medication. It’s working well, but as expected, it costs more and there are no co-pay assistance programs available for it. The once-daily dosing, along with a new pill-minder box, has really helped him become more independent with taking his medication. Our boy is growing up!Of course, medication changes also mean more lab work. I wish labs came with simple co-pays like doctor visits, but they don’t—deductibles must be met before insurance begins to cover those costs.We still have some funds remaining from his original fundraiser in 2013, but medical expenses continue, and we hope to keep funds available in case he needs any additional procedures in the future.
December 6, 2017
Gibson is dealing with his second ear infection of the season. He’s been free of ear infections for almost 2 years since he got tubes placed. One of the tubes fell out this summer and now that ear keeps getting infected. His Dr has sent a referral to ENT and he will hopefully be getting a new set of tubes. Due to it being so close to the end of the year, I don’t think he will even be seen before our insurance plan year restarts. He has met our out of pocket maximum for this year but if the tubes get placed next year, his totals will have cleared out.
With this as well as the increase in his medication cost from 50 per month to 200 per month, we could use any help you can give.
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Guestbook
July 29, 2013
Carson,
Thoughts and prayers coming your way for little Gibson!
Hodder
