Sometimes it's just a matter of being at the right place and at the right time. A mother discovered she had a life-threatening condition while undergoing a routine test for live organ donation.
Auden Evenson, 4, from Wisconsin was born with a rare genetic condition called alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, which significantly increases his risk of both lung and liver disease due to a missing important enzyme. As of the moment, he's having high blood sugar levels, temperature spikes, and swollen liver and spleen.
The only way to resolve all the issues is to undergo a liver transplant. The family did find an organ donor, but when the liver arrived, it could no longer be transplanted because it's already old. That's when mom, Kerri, stepped in to be a living organ donor.
The liver, one of the biggest internal organs, is the only organ capable of regeneration. In fact, it can grow back to its normal size within one to two weeks even if only 50% of its original mass has been retained after the partial liver removal.
However, before she could proceed to organ donation, she had to undergo a series of tests including an MRI scan, where the doctors discovered she had kidney aneurysm. Aneurysm is characterized by the bulging of the artery as its walls become thinner and weaker. If it is not treated immediately, it can lead to a rupture and massive internal bleeding. Terri didn't know about it because she didn't have any symptom, which can include hematuria (blood in the urine), sudden increase in blood pressure, and pain.
The diagnosis also surprised husband Tom, who thought they could have put her life in danger if they decided to become pregnant again.
Fortunately, Kerri received the surgery she needed to remove the aneurysm and remained a liver candidate for her son. Both are expecting to go through the liver transplant before the year ends.