Sadie, Age 13

Sadie is a post-liver transplant child, who is immune suppressed. She struggles with inflections and bile duct obstructions. Sadie was born seemingly healthy but at 4 weeks of age became very ill. At six weeks she was admitted to Butterworth/Spectrum for testing. After ten days of testing, biopsies, etc. Sadie was transferred via ambulance to University of Chicago. Sadie was placed on a national emergency waiting list for a liver transplant. After 4 weeks of waiting, with no donor liver to be found for our less than 8 lb. baby daughter, Sadie’s Dad was able to give her a part of his liver. They underwent an 18-hour surgery on May2nd, 1994. Sadie was given a 67% chance to survive her first year. She spent about five months of her first year in the hospital.

She is a joy and blessing to her family and beyond. Sadie loves spending time with her family picking apples in the fall, going to Hamilton football games, watching movies, and swimming in her pool she got from Make A Wish. She also enjoys visiting her older brother at college. Sadie loves to do ballet, sing, listen to music, read books, and spend time with family and friends. She also loves to go to youth group and to hang out with her Sigma friends!

Sadie’s family is thankful for each Hope student who has worked so hard at Dance Marathon to raise money for DeVos!