Teen Celebrates 14th Anniversary of Receiving a Liver Transplant
Jacob Wiles, 16, is completing his sophomore year of high school, playing on the school’s basketball team, and has straight A’s in academics. He is living the routine life of a teenage boy in his home in Cape Coral, Florida. But what most do not know is that at 7 weeks old, his life expectancy was in question.
His mother, Diane Wiles, recalls the day when she took her youngest son to the hospital for a rash on his face, appearing to be jaundiced (yellow-toned skin). Doctors immediately ran tests and found his liver levels to be high. Jacob was diagnosed him with biliary atresia—a genetic birth defect or developed by disease of the liver, causing an obstruction to bile flow. The most effective treatments are the Kasai procedure and liver transplantation.
“I didn’t know what to think or say. I did not see that coming at all,” said Diane. “I was shocked; crushed. My husband and I had no idea our baby was that sick.”
Doctors referred the family to the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), a joint partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth—University of Miami Health System, so they immediately drove south to seek help for their newborn. Within a couple of days, Jacob underwent the Kasai procedure in which the surgeon removes any problematic bile ducts outside the liver and then the small intestine is attached to the liver.
“The surgeon told me that Jacob’s liver was in the shape of a 60-year-old man who drank alcohol all his life,” said Diane. “The procedure took eight hours; it was the longest day of my life.”
In that moment of uncertainty, the nurse handed Diane an object that belonged to her baby, a pair of socks she considers her lucky charm—and still carries with her today wherever she goes. After receiving news that the procedure went well, the family was relieved. However, they knew Jacob would still need a transplant in the future.
That moment came two years after, in April 2002.
After hours of surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Jacob’s transplant physician informed the family that his liver was successfully producing bile and that he was going to be fine. Diane immediately rushed to Jacob’s bedside and was comforted at the sight of him alert, asking her for his “paci and blanky”— his beloved pacifier and blanket.
“Just to see my son awake and alive was incredible,” said Diane. “The doctors, nurses, and staff were fabulous. I wouldn’t go to any other hospital.”
MTI performs 120 to 140 liver transplants every year, making it one of the most prolific liver transplant programs in the world. What’s more, it is the only center in South Florida to perform every type of organ transplant, attracting patients from throughout the U.S. and abroad.
For the next 10 years after surgery, the Wiles family spent their holiday season delivering gifts to other children at MTI, bringing hope to those families facing challenging times, just like they did.
“We urge people to consider registering to be an organ donor. Jacob is with us today because someone said yes,” said Diane, truly thankful.