Miracle Stories
Dominic, Age 6
Dominic was born premature on August 7, 2003, weighing only 3lbs 6ozs. His lungs had not fully developed, causing him to remain in the hospital for an additional four weeks before he was stable enough to treat as an outpatient.
During the outpatient process, Dominic’s bilirubin levels continued to be high and cause jaundice, a yellowing of the skin. After a second liver biopsy at six months of age, doctors discovered that Dominic’s liver had begun to harden (similar to cirrhosis) and he was suffering from a condition called biliary atresia.
This is a rare condition in newborns where the common bile duct between the liver and small intestine is blocked or absent. In Dominic’s case, the bile duct was absent, and he would need a liver transplant.
He was placed on the waiting list for a new liver and after three months the call came. Dominic was admitted into the Food Lion Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at VCU Children’s Medical Center. It wasn’t until later that night after surgery that Dominic’s family was able to see their baby boy, and shared what a miracle it was to see his true skin-color and clear eyes.
From that moment on, they were sure that he was going to be okay. Dominic is now six years old, and continues to receive lab work and check-ups in addition to the six medications he will take daily for the rest of his life. Despite his medical routine, Dominic is a happy, spunky and mischievous little man, just like all healthy children his age.
