A Jacksonville family’s urgent search for a liver donor for their 5-year-old son is drawing attention across eastern North Carolina as they hope a transplant can dramatically improve his quality of life.
Elijah was born at just 29 weeks and has faced complex medical issues throughout his life. Now, his family says he needs a liver transplant and is looking for a donor with O-negative blood. Elijah is listed for a transplant at Duke.
In recent weeks, messages written on the back windows of cars asking for a liver donor for Elijah have spread across eastern North Carolina, prompting many people to reach out to the family.
On Sunday, the family received a call about a potential donor, but doctors determined the liver would not work for Elijah. The search is continuing.
Elijah’s mother, Haley Breland, cares for him full time and said a transplant would be life-changing for her son.
“If he got a liver his life would change quite drastically he’d be able to go to school and make friends and he’d be able to hang out with other little kids hopefully be able to stay awake and go back to therapy because I had to pull him out,” Breland said.
Elijah suffered a stroke that left a quarter of his brain nonfunctional, according to his family. He has also experienced seizures, cannot walk or talk, and is unable to eat by mouth. His family says his liver is severely scarred and damaged because of his medical conditions.
Jacksonville family seeks O-negative liver donor for 5-year-old needing transplant
Jacksonville family seeks O-negative liver donor for 5-year-old needing transplant
Jacksonville family seeks O-negative liver donor for 5-year-old needing transplant
Elijah’s mother has provided a link with more information for people with O-negative blood who believe they could be a match.