We now have three precious babies with biliary atresia under our care. Babies Anya, Lia and Matthew will need a liver transplant in order to survive. Both Anya and Lia continue to live with biological parents in China who are desperate to save their daughter’s lives. Baby Matthew has an adoptive family racing towards him to bring him to the US. We are committed to doing all we can to support these three little ones.

When a child is awaiting liver transplant one of the primary concerns is nutrition. Good nutrition allows the child to thrive. With a failing liver, this becomes extremely difficult as the liver plays a critical part with the absorption of nutrients.  Feeding a baby in liver failure with typical infant formulas will not enable the baby to grow and develop because the nutrients in that formula cannot be properly digested. The baby in liver failure cannot use the nutrients in typical formulas and the result is that the baby suffers from malnutrition.

The standard of care for a baby in liver failure is to provide nutrition using MCT based formulas (MCT is medium chain triglycerides. Typical infant formulas use LCT which is long chain triglycerides). MCT based formulas are nearly impossible to get within China. MCT based formulas are also very expensive. But, it is these MCT based formulas which help babies in liver failure to grow and become as strong as possible for transplant.

Babies Matthew, Anya, and Lia all need MCT based formula. We have been sending these formulas with people willing to carry to ensure they make it to the babies safely. Right now we are in need of the MCT based formula and MCT oil. There are two ways you can help. One is to make a donation and we will purchase the formula and oil. Or, you could purchase it and ship it to us at:

Knowing Hope, PO BOX 72, Andover, MA 01810

Thank you in advance for partnering with us to help these very special babies.

Knowing Hope, one life at a time