Savannah S.

Louisiana

Birth Date - August 24, 1996

Main Diagnosis - Biliary Atresia

THEME:   Bible Verses or Christian inspirational quote accompanied by any MATURE picture, specifically religious symbols (a cross, an angel, a light/torch) and/or flowers, a bird, etc.

Quilt Deadline: 4/1/2014

Savannah's Story

Savannah is a 17 year old senior at Dutchtown High School in Louisiana. She has two brothers and two sisters. Savannah is active in school clubs and Volunteers often in the community especially with LOPA (Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency).  She is a typical teenage girl. She loves the beach and the sun, she loves to swim, hunt, fish, ride horses, play softball, bowling, ice skating, music, shop, get dressed up, movies, going out to eat, being with her friends, helping others, visiting with Sister Dulce. Just living life.

She is planning on attending Our Lady of the Lake college in Baton Rouge. She has not definitely decided on a major yet. It will either be nursing specializing in pediatric oncology or PA or NP route. I am behind her no matter what path she chooses. She will be amazing. She has a heart of gold and the sweetest, funniest personality.

Savannah has a huge interest in the medical field due to not just her mom and grandmothers severe medical conditions, but her very own.

You see Savannah was not projected to still be with us,especially without a transplant. She was born with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease. She is even more rare because she is one of the very few of those babies born with numerous other anomalies as well. She was admitted at 4 weeks old and had her first major surgery at 5 weeks old.

Due to the surgery, long term liver disease and the progression, She has developed numerous other conditions. It has been a very long and very difficult journey a lot of the time. It is very difficult to watch your child suffer and nothing you can do. Knowing this is her life. This will always be her life. You see, there is no known cause, thus no cure  for this horrible disease.

Savannah is going through a stage of progression right now. She is getting sicker by the week. Her blood work is also getting worse by the week. To see her dwindle and not be able to do the things she loves is heart wrenching. It has been a very long, crazy roller coaster ride to this point. I don't see us getting off any time soon. The surgeon feels she will be to the point she will be ready to list for a liver transplant in about three months or so. If she continues the rate of progression she is on now, it may be sooner rather than later.

She makes us so proud through it all. With all she has going on, she never pouts, she always smiles, always thinks of others and their happiness first, and never misses an opportunity to live every moment of life to the fullest. She knows it could be her last chance.

Thank you all for walking this journey with us. We can't do it without you.

To learn more about Savannah and to continue to check on Savannah's status you can go to her prayer page on Facebook , "Prayers for Savannah's Sunshine"!

Please come join us and help spread the word of the importance of organ donation.