BAGUIO CITY – The family of a one-year old baby girl afflicted with liver disease is knocking on the doors of Samaritans here to help raise the needed amount for a transplant that would give Aleiah Xuzeinne a new lease on life.
Aleiah Xuzeinne, daughter of Lakan MaginooAbratique and Marielle Olbinado, was diagnosed with a rare condition called bilitiary atresia, one month after being born on Nov. 21, 2014.
Bilitiary atresia occurs when bile gets stuck in the baby’s liver because the bile ducts failed to develop when the baby was still in the mother’s womb.
Doctors suggested immediately that Aleiah be operated on a soon as possible to prevent damage to the liver.
On February 18, 2015, doctors operated on Aleiah, using a surgery that the doctors called “Kasai Procedure” wherein they cut part of her intestines and connected them to the liver. Thanks to the skillful doctors, and the strong will of Aleiah to survive, the operation was a success.
Despite the success of the operation, Aleiah still had to be very mindful of her health. She followed certain dietary restraints due to having another condition called G6PD deficiency, and was required to take various medicines and vitamins.
Over a year after the first operation, however, Aleiah still experienced jaundice, a condition where the blood has high bile content. This was accompanied by abdominal swelling. Nevertheless, Aleiah tried to stay strong and energetic.
On June 6, 2016, Aleiah was brought to the Philippine General Hospital to meet an expert on children’s liver diseases. After examination, she was told that the first operation was unable to prevent cirrhosis and that her liver had been permanently damaged.
Due to this, Aleiah is in dire need of a liver transplant which could cost around P5 million. However, the cost of the liver transplant is too much for Aleiah’s family prompting a call for help through donations.
Donations can be deposited in the following bank account:
Acct name: Aleiah Xuzuinne Olbinado-Abratique, Acct No: 3883388137488, Branch: Metrobank Baguio-Burnham. **Danny Cariño – PIO Intern
