Still waiting

Conway County infant stable, needs liver transplant

By Linda Hicks CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LITTLE ROCK — Eric and April Stricklin of Oppelo pray daily that their 4-month old baby, Erin, will continue to gain weight so she might successfully undergo a liver transplant.

“She’s stable right now,” said Erin’s mother last week from a Little Rock doctor’s office following the baby’s latest checkup.

“She’s teething, and she weighs 10 1/2 pounds. She’s 2 feet long. She’s all arms and legs,” April said.

Erin was born May 2, three weeks premature and with a number of health problems, including a malrotation or “backward liver,” and a rare condition called biliary atresia, where the common bile duct between the liver and small intestine is blocked or absent, April explained. The only way to defeat the biliary atresia is through a liver transplant. If left untreated, April said, the liver will eventually quit working.

Erin has also been seen at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., where the family learned more about transplant options.

“We’ve been told that she willhave to have a transplant between 6 months and a year old,” she said. The couple learned that a living liver donor or a cadaver donor may be a possibility. While none have been confirmed as a candidate, several relatives, April said, have stepped forward and volunteered to be tested for the opportunity when the time comes.

“Erin’s not on a transplant list as of now,” April explained. “We need for her to gain some weight,and we’ve increased her calorie intake. So, we are in a wait-andsee situation right now.”

April said Erin is rated low (2) on the model for end-stage liver disease system that runs to 15 for critically ill. The MELD system is used to prioritize patients waiting for a liver transplant.

Erin has been in and out of Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock since her birth and has undergone several surgeries, including the removal of her gallbladder and her appendix. Her first surgery was June 11. She was released from the hospital June 19 and required admission again July 4 when she underwent a surgery to correct an obstruction.

The couple expect their family insurance policy to cover 80 percent of the liver transplant when it takes place at Le Bonheur, leaving the family to be responsible for about 20 percent of the total cost. That, estimated by April, could run as much as $200,000 or more. That does not include the stay in Memphis for two to three months or any additional expenses, she added.

An account has been set up at Regions Bank in Morrilton in Eric and April Stricklin’s names to help with the medical-related expenses not covered by insurance.

Also, a benefit softball tournament was held for Erin at the Western Yell County Softball Complex in Belleville last month. At that event, April said about $3,500 was raised. She also said other fundraisers are being discussed.

“We are just thankful for all the prayers and help from everyone,” she said.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 139 on 08/31/2008