Whittier baby in dire need of new liver

WHITTIER, Calif. (FOX 11) - A little boy from Whittier is in desperate need of a new liver. 

Twins Hendrix and James were born about five months ago. At birth Hendrix was the bigger baby and mom, Jacinda Quinn, worried there was a reason James wasn’t gaining weight as easily as his bother. 

“I had this feeling, thank goodness I took him to a new pediatrician”, said Quinn. 

A blood panel revealed baby James had a biliary atresia.

“It apparently attacks his bile ducts, damages liver, he has liver damage,” said grandfather Allen Quinn. 

Right now, the doctors at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital want James to gain weight but a permanent cure means a liver transplant and the clock is ticking. 

Ideally James would need the new liver before his first birthday in March. 

According to doctors the ideal candidate is under 45, healthy and with no history of drug use. And because James is so tiny doctors would need a couple of candidates to find the right donor. 

“It’s pretty amazing.  I didn’t know you could give part of the liver”, said grandfather Quinn. 
He recognizes what a huge gift it would be but he wants the public to know what the donor would get in return.  

“They would get a lifelong blessing, know that they touched someone else’s’ life and family”. 

There are two scheduled fundraisers for him in Whittier.

The first is Thursday, August 15th at the Chick Fil-A at the Whittwood Mall on 15600 Whittier Blvd. Just say the words “For Spirit Night.” The fundraiser is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

The second fundraiser will be held Monday, August 19th at Crazy Matt’s Famous BBQ trailer 
Near Mills and Whittier Boulevard from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  100% of the proceeds go to baby James.

If you’d like to help support James and his family click here. 

If you are interested in being a donor click here.