Searching for support: Graham couple seeking liver donor for daughter

At nearly nine months old, Everleigh Deck, who was diagnosed with biliary atresia, is fighting for her life and requires a donor to provide a liver transplant.

Taylor and Tyson Deck welcomed Everleigh into the world in December. Two months later, Everleigh became jaundiced and she was eventually diagnosed with biliary atresia.

She was born without a gallbladder or bile ducts, but it was something doctors were unable to discover in a newborn.

Upon diagnosis, doctors performed a procedure in an attempt to fix the problem and help Everleigh begin to heal. The procedure didn’t guarantee success but it was the most that could be done at the time.

Following the work, Taylor and Tyson could only hope it would function properly and help Everleigh return to normal. However, by the time Everleigh was around four months old, doctors deemed the procedure unsuccessful and the infant has been on a liver transplant waiting list since then.

“Everything was looking good. It never got down to normal but (the numbers) were headed in the right direction. Then they turned back around and started heading the wrong way,” Taylor said about the results following the procedure.

Due to Everleigh’s size she is in need of someone with a smaller liver. Though she’s nearly nine months old now, Everleigh is the size of a four or five month old because her body is unable to process certain fats and nutrients that would help her grow.

Neither Taylor nor Tyson were matches to be a donor for their child, so they are now appealing to the public to try to find someone to help save their daughter.

The ideal donor candidate needs to likely be a healthy, petite female in her 20s or 30s with a low body mass index. The donor also needs to have O Positive or O Negative blood.

The family has done its best to remain positive and hopeful, but the need for help with this issue grows each passing day.

“The disease is just very unpredictable,” Taylor said. “(Everleigh) could kind of coast like this for another few months, six months. But she could also have something major happen in a day and then need a transplant like tomorrow.”

Those who wish to submit applications to be a donor can do so at utclivingdonor.com and when taken to the page select “Living Liver Donor.”

The Decks wanted to thank the community for everything that’s been done so far in support. Taylor said there have already been many applications for donors. She also said that Everleigh is not the only small child in need of a donor.

“We would like to make people aware that (Everleigh) is not the only child that needs a liver transplant,” Taylor said. “If they feel led to donate, and they aren't a match for her or (if doctors) find a match, there is a still a huge need for organ donations.”