Meet Kasen Donerlson. He was born on January 24, 2020. He weighed a healthy 8 pounds upon delivery, but not everything was going to go much smoother from there. Just as his life started, he already had a couple big hurdles to deal with. Specifically, breathing problems and jaundice.

Out of the womb, into the NICU.

Here, Kasen was monitored and hooked up to several machines by staff to help him out. Vulnerable didn’t even begin to describe things.

Respiratory complications are not something a newborn needs. It was several days that he was in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), though the doctors told his mother that his situation would improve as he got older.

Guess those newborn lungs aren’t up to this task.

But as time went on, his situation didn’t improve at all. It’d been 2 months, and now Kasen, still a newborn, had another problem on his list. He was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a really unpleasant condition where blockage and scars occur within the bile ducts in, and around, the liver.

Concern hardly describes what his mother, Mitayah Donerlson, was feeling. Kasen, only two months into his life, had a whole assortment of medical conditions that most of us are fortunate enough not to have.

Now, even more unfortunate news came. As if he needed any more.

The severity of the biliary atresia meant that Kasen would need to undergo surgery to repair those bile ducts. Although turns out, things weren’t so simple. One unsuccessful surgery later, and they learned that he needed a liver transplant. That’s far too many battles for one newborn to fight.

https://www.facebook.com/mitayah.donerlson/posts/10158855319800891

“We had endless hospital visits and we would be there for five or seven or 10 days because of the severity of the disease and the complications that Kasen was having.” -Mitayah Donerlson

Can’t you help but wonder how many times Mitayah had to visit this hospital for her son, and see those same white walls and people in uniforms take her son into a room? No parent should have to experience that, and it’s sad to even think about it happening to someone else.

Mitayah placed Kasen onto the transplant waiting list. Let’s hope she didn’t have to wait long.

Kasen was proving to be a fighter. Only 2 months old, and he was busy dealing with the triple threat of jaundice, biliary atresia, and surgery. All in the middle of a pandemic, no less. And though things seemed like they couldn’t get any worse, it turns out that they could.

Come November, while awaiting a liver transplant for Kasen, the worst thing that could have happened did happen. Mitayah, Kasen, her partner and her niece tested positive for COVID.

Another respiratory illness is the last thing Kasen needed.

Some parents might feel despair and begin expecting the worst at this point. Mitayah may have felt that very thing, for all we know. But if there’s anything we learned from Kasen’s story so far, it’s that we shouldn’t underestimate how tough he is.

“On Nov. 21 he woke up that morning and was extremely hot. His body was like touching a stove.”

Kasen had to spend 3 days in the hospital. Though his family members showed no symptoms, Kasen had come down with a terrible fever. Despite the odds, this born fighter of a baby recovered from COVID.

Even though that still left the jaundice and liver transplant on the table, it was one less battle he had to fight.

https://www.facebook.com/KTXSTelevision/posts/10165028948095624

And just a few weeks later, his mother received that one, uplifting call that she needed to hear. Now, a liver was available for Kasen. Now, this huge burden wasn’t theirs to carry anymore. Just what we like to hear!

The transplant took place in January. Due to the biliary atresia, Kasen was a bit heavier than he should have been at his age.

Though that, and many other things, would change for the better now.

“His eyes have always been greenish and yellowish, his entire life, and he woke up from surgery with clear eyes. I was overjoyed by seeing that.” – Kasen’s mother said.

One of his doctors, Dr. George Mazariegos, was particularly attentive to Kasen before and after the 10-hour transplant. Dr. Mazariegos stated that he noticed an immediate difference, and that Kasen can now have a normal, healthy life. Just what he deserved.

He celebrated his 1st birthday just recently, a huge milestone and one that his mother appreciated more than a typical birthday, clearly.

https://www.facebook.com/mitayah.donerlson/posts/10159154478105891

Kasen is one hell of a fighter, and one whose story we won’t forget. His story has caught the attention of several news outlets, and you can give one of them a watch below.

I’m sure you know at least a few people who’d love to hear this tale of survival and love. Why not give this article a share so they can see?

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: [Good Morning America on YouTube, GMA official website, Mitayah Donerlson]