Ten-year old Shelby King suffers from a condition called Biliary atresia, a continuous scarring of the liver due to reduced flow of bile to the liver.
Her adoptive mother has been helping her on this journey since age 3, when her biological parents couldn't afford the expensive treatments, but Lisa King isn't immune to the heavy cost. In August, Shelby's classmates helped the family raise $1,500 to pay for the mounting bills. Even a GoFundMe account was set up to help pay for the procedures.
Exactly one month later, a match was found. Shelby went to the hospital for the liver transplant two days later, but flatlined on the table before being revived.
Shelby's body accepted the new liver, but there was a lot of blood loss. As a result, her brain is heavily damaged, and her hearing, sight, and motor skills have been greatly affected. While most of the damage cannot yet be measured, her family has started to share the little girl's small successes on Facebook, asking for greeting cards and prayers to share with Shelby.
And the response was much larger than the family expected. Shelby started receiving cards from all over the country, from Virginia, to Alaska, to Florida! And now the cards serve as therapy. She can open an envelope with the help of others, which is both helping her eyesight and motor skills. And for the first time since the surgery, Shelby was able to go to the playground this past weekend. Lisa says that the world's compassion is saving her daughter.
Anyone can send Shelby a card at the following address: Cincinnati Children's Hospital c/o Shelby King, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229.
If you want to support Shelby's recovery, please SHARE!
