Story Project
Jovoni's Miracle
Tell us your story.
At the age of 7, Jovoni was diagnosed with Auto-Immune
Hepatitis. After two bouts of high fever, jaundice and
fatigue, it was determined that Jovoni's liver was
functioning on borrowed time and one day he would need a
liver transplant. Jovoni spent 9 years under the watchful eye
of Dr. Dennis Christi in the Gastroenterology Clinic at
Children's.
Unfortunately, the inevitable had come, and in Oct. 2004,
Dr. Christi told us that the time had come for Jovoni to be
placed on the liver transplant list. There was nothing more
that could be medically done to save his liver.
On Nov. 22, 2005, Jovoni woke up sick and bloated from
fluid build up and had to be admitted at Children's.
By the 25th, he was so sick he was vomiting blood and fluid
had built up in his lungs and he had to be intebated. He
spent several days in ICU. On Dec. 4th we were told that a
liver was available, unfortunately, it did not work out and
Jovoni had to continue to wait. One night he told me he
prayed for a liver for Christmas and that was the hope we
held on to.
Jovoni was back in ICU and was declining fast. By Dec. 22,
his pneumonia levels were so high that he had to be dialyzed
to bring them down. He was no longer able to clot and he
began to bleed profusely from everywhere. That night Jovoni
coded, and every available doctor and nurse was in his room,
fighting to save his life.
The transplant team met every morning updating us on his
status and re-assuring us that a liver would come soon. And
then, the best news on earth! Dec 24th, Christmas Eve, we got
word that a liver had been found. At 16 years and 79 pounds,
Jovoni got his Christmas Miracle. A team of wonderful doctors
and nurses led by the amazing Dr. Jorge Reyes transplanted
Jovoni's sick liver with a healthy new liver. After
a 2 month stay, Jovoni was finally going home.
Now, one week shy of a year, Jovoni is back in school for
the first time in three years. A teen that is grateful for
every new day of his new life.
What does Children's mean to you, your child and your family?
Children's has been there for us since
Jovoni's first visit at 8 months old. He loved the
stays, especially when he was smaller. The idea of breakfast,
lunch and dinner being served in bed while playing Nintendo
until he fell asleep, was the life!
Not only does Children's have the best doctors in
the world, but they also have the best nursing staff. It
takes a special kind of person to be able to work with sick
children and their distraught parents. We were showed so much
compassion and genuine concern during our stay. There was
always someone that had time to listen to our concerns and to
answer all of our questions no matter how insignificant we
may have thought they were.
The transplant team is remarkable. They were truly team
players with the same goal and that is to see a well child.
They always invited us to listen, ask questions and/or voice
our concerns during rounds. They went out of their way to
make us feel like part of the team. Every step of the way, we
were kept abreast of what was going on. While Jovoni was in
surgery, they continued to update us, letting us know what
was happening. That gave us great comfort Jovoni was in
capable hands.
Since Jovoni's transplant, Dr. Horslen has taken
excellent care of him. We are so pleased and excited for his
future.
We are and always will be truly grateful to
Children's for all they have done for Jovoni and our
family. They helped to give our son a second chance at
life.