This little boy’s name is Rodel Lundaan. His family resides in Capitan Bayong in Impasug-ong, and he needs our help. He has a condition called Biliary Atresia. This is a congenital condition which means he was born with it. His skin color and his eyes are a deep yellow-greenish color (jaundice). He is 1 year and 8 months old but his size and weight is that of a 6 month old baby. He is badly in need of medical attention.
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), Biliary Atresia is a serious but rare disease of the liver that affects newborn infants. It occurs in about one in 10,000 children and is more common in girls than in boys and in Asian and African-American newborns than in Caucasian newborns. The cause of biliary atresia is not known, and treatments are only partially successful. Biliary atresia is the most common reason for liver transplantation in children in the United States and most of the Western world.
The liver damage incurred from biliary atresia is caused by injury and loss (atresia) of the bile ducts that are responsible for draining bile from the liver. Bile is made by the liver and passes through the bile ducts and into the intestines where it helps digest food, fats, and cholesterol. The loss of bile ducts causes bile to remain in the liver. When bile builds up it can damage the liver, causing scarring and loss of liver tissue. Eventually the liver will not be able to work properly and cirrhosis will occur. Once the liver fails, a liver transplant becomes necessary. Biliary atresia can lead to liver failure and the need for liver transplant within the first 1 to 2 years of life.
The cause of biliary atresia is not known. It is not an inherited disease. Cases of biliary atresia do not run in families; identical twins have been born with only one child having the disease. Biliary atresia is most likely caused by an event occurring during fetal life or around the time of birth. Possibilities for the “triggering” event may include one or a combination of the following factors:
- infection with a virus or bacterium
- a problem with the immune system
- an abnormal bile component
- an error in development of the liver and bile ducts
Please contact us if you know anyone who can help. He is running out of time as the usual life span for a child with biliary atresia is only 2 years.
Links on blogs about Rodel: http://willmiller.theworldrace.org/?filename=day-290-rodel
hello there! I have read this post
it was forwarded:) I reposted your post our website:) Let us help each other and our fellow Bukidnonian:)
http://bukidnonmyhome.com/2011/03/we-need-help-for-this-little-boy-bukidnon-my-home-cares/
Thank you so much! We must get the word out to as many as we can because he doesn’t have much time. I appreciate your passing it on.
Hello there, I saw your comment on my blog. This precious little boy does, indeed, need specialist help.
My daughter receives her care through the Royal Children’s Hospital in Victoria, Australia.
Through that hospital I came to know of a program that cares for children from overseas who need specialist care not available in their own country. It is called “Children First Foundation”, and is run by a woman named Moira Kelly. I am pasting a link here to their website – the page where you can refer a child. http://www.childrenfirstfoundation.com/canwehelp.aspx
I really hope that you are successful in finding the right kind of help for precious little Rodel. Perhaps other countries have similar programs to that of Children First Foundation. It might be worth applying to several at once.
Please let me know if you are successful in finding help.
My thoughts and best wishes.
Lynne
Thank you so much Lyn. It is an encouragement to see how your daughter is doing. She is such a cutie! I hope we can find help for Rodal, too.
I will try to contact Children First Foundation. You don’t how much I appreciate your quick response. Bless your heart. I just wish we’d met Rodel sooner. I hope we’re not too late. I’ll keep you posted.
Dawn
Hi Lynne.
I just heard from Children First Foundation and they told me (sadly) that they are not in the capacity to help children who need transplants.
I got a message, though, from Metro Ministries in the US, and am crossing my fingers. They may be able to help. I learned that they were able to help this little boy in Haiti who had a tumor in his mouth. Unfortunately, I have not received word yet from the other organizations I contacted. I’m just keeping my hopes up here.
Thanks so much for your concern. I’ll keep you posted.
Shared this info! Why don’t we start kaya a fundraising among bloggers?
http://www.bukidnononline.com/2011/03/28/want-to-help-a-little-brave-boy-in-bukidnon-read-this/
Thank you so much I. Can you please help spread the word?
hi-ya, I like all your posts, keep them coming.