Liver Recipient

Jacob Gouty

Jacob was a healthy, normal child. Suddenly at 15 months old he became jaundiced. He underwent numerous blood tests but doctors could not determine the cause. As his condition deteriorated, he was sent to University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. Several days later, he was listed for a transplant. He was in liver failure.

Jacob slipped into a coma. We waited for one week before a liver was found. We almost lost him, but fortunately, a donor was found.  He received a partial liver from a 30-year-old man. We never met the donor family. Within days we left the ICU and left the hospital after two weeks.

That was almost three years ago. Jacob is now a happy, healthy, and normal 4 year old. All his teachers say how enthusiastic he is about everything he does. Jacob is in preschool and has started playing soccer this year. He loves to sing and I started teaching him to play the piano. He really seems to enjoy life. He somehow knows how lucky he is.

He has had a few problems due to his immunosuppressants, but on the whole, he is fine. We are very fortunate. We go back to Birmingham just once a year. He has monthly tests. His doctor says that eventually he will wean himself off of the medicine except for that small dosage. Unless he has a problem they will not increase the dosage.

We have recently begun speaking at hospitals and organizations locally to raise awareness on organ donation. Although Jacob does not realize the danger he faced, he enjoys speaking to people and helps tell his story. We hope we are making a difference. Every day we realize how blessed we are by his presence here and pray for his continued health.