East London resident Kristi Meier is organising a fundraiser at the Gonubie Round Table premises on October 9 to help fund medical treatment for her daughter, Sierra.
Picture: SUPPLIED
“When my baby girl Sierra was four months old, we were given the devastating news that she had been diagnosed with biliary atresia,” Meier said.
According to the US-based National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, biliary atresia is a condition in infants in which the bile ducts outside and inside the liver are scarred and blocked.
This means that bile cannot flow into the intestine and instead builds up inside the liver, causing scarring, loss of liver function and cirrhosis.
“Love and financial support streamed in from family, friends, our local community as well as sponsors abroad, granting us the opportunity to relocate to Johannesburg for the necessary screening tests which would qualify us for an urgent liver transplant to be done at the Donald Gordon Hospital.
“Fortunately, I was an excellent match and honoured to give my baby the gift of life by donating a portion of my liver,” said Meier.
The transplant was performed on September 9 2020, and Meier was able to move back to East London.
However, Sierra still requires ongoing medication and testing to monitor her blood.
“The inability to keep up with these bills due to financial constraints is placing a hug burden on our family,” she said.
“Future funds raised would certainly keep Sierra alive and healthy. Future funds would also ease the burden and limit the stress on our family as we do not have medical aid.”
To book your place at the fundraiser, contact Alexis Stewart at 081-300-8732. Bookings close on October 7 but walk-ins will be accepted.
For more information, visit the Pray for Baby Sierra Facebook page.
