Latest news with #Kasai
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
€30,000 raised to save life of five month-old Wicklow baby with rare condition
Born with biliary atresia with splenic malformation, which affects her liver and other vital organs, Millie Doyle-Keegan from Aughrim has already endured so much despite her young age, but has done so with a smile on her face. The Kasai procedure to address the condition sadly didn't work for baby Millie, whose liver continues to fail. The only option remaining is a liver transplant at King's College Hospital in London, which comes with huge travel costs, time off work, accommodation in London and ongoing medical care. To help ease the burden on Sarah and her husband Richie Keegan so they can focus on Millie and their two young boys, Lee and Matthew, Sarah's friend Heather launched a GoFundMe page that has raised €30,554 in just two weeks. 'When the surgery didn't work, I was embarrassed about doing a fundraiser, but Heather pressed home that we had a sick child, and people wanted to help,' Sarah said. 'There's lots of bills to pay, so we're completely overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. It's almost too much. 'People are contacting us in the village to do fundraisers, but we don't want to take advantage of the situation, so we told them it's fine. We were just looking for a bit of help, and have had so much already. 'From the beginning, it wasn't even about the money – it's about being told by the hospital that nothing was wrong with Millie, and the situation she's in,' she added. 'I was initially told there's nothing wrong at one hospital, before hearing from Crumlin Hospital three days later that she has biliary atresia with splenic malformation. 'For something so rare, I've met a few people through different connections with the same condition, so it's great to highlight that this happens. 'People have reached out to me, including a woman whose son has the same condition and had his transplant, offering support and advice. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'We're so grateful. We were never expecting this.' The family will fly to London in August for an assessment, after which Millie will go on a liver transplant list. From then on, they must be on alert 24/7 and ready to fly at a moment's notice. 'If they ring to say the liver is available, there's an ambulance 20 minutes away, we have to be ready to get to the ambulance, go straight to the airport and on to London,' Sarah said. 'We could wait one or two years. If her condition worsens, she'll be moved up. I'm praying someone in the family will match her. 'I'm so blessed she has just taken everything in her stride. It gives us hope for the future. She's such a good baby, and you can really see her personality shining through.' To support baby Millie, visit
Black America Web
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Skai Jackson Shares Sweet Snaps Of 6-Month-Old Son Kasai Days After Ex Deondre Burgin Was Arrested For Aggravated Robbery
Skai Jackson is focusing on her family. Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty On Friday, July 18, the former Disney Channel star took to Instagram to share some absolutely adorable new pictures of her baby boy, Kasai. In celebration of her first child turning 6 months old, the actress uploaded a carousel of sweet snaps, giving anyone who sees them some serious baby fever! In the flicks, baby Kasai is wearing some striped overalls, and in some of them, he sat on the couch next to a puppy. This marks the first time Jackson showed her little one's full face, which caused people to flood the comments with their opinions on who the cutie looks like. 'Looking just like mommyyyyyy 😍,' one fan wrote. Another added, 'Awww she finally let the world see him so adorable ❤️.' This sweet display comes amid some drama for Kasai's father. On Monday, July 14, Skai Jackson's ex-boyfriend, Deondre Burgin, was arrested for aggravated robbery in an alleged carjacking with help from an FBI task force. According to reports from PEOPLE , Burgin was taken into custody by officers from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and local police from Covington, Kentucky. The arrest happened outside of an Ulta Beauty in Newport, Kentucky, shortly after 7 p.m, Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders told the outlet, citing police reports. The warrant for Burgin's arrest–which was signed by a judge on June 30–was issued by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department in neighboring Ohio, Sanders. After waiving an extradition hearing on Tuesday, July 15, Burgin was extradited to Hamilton County and booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on Thursday, July 17, shortly after 11 a.m. According to the report, Burgin and another suspect allegedly robbed the owner of a 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 and a semi-automatic 9-caliber Glock handgun in the parking lot of a Cincinnati apartment complex. Jackson's ex is also accused of threatening the victim while carrying a handgun and pistol-whipping the victim. The victim told police that the two suspects proceeded to take his keys and flee with their gun and the vehicle, per PEOPLE . The victim had multiple facial lacerations visible to police and was transferred to a local hospital. Burgin's arrest on July 14 was separate from his previous arrest for a warrant on April 17. The post Skai Jackson Shares Sweet Snaps Of 6-Month-Old Son Kasai Days After Ex Deondre Burgin Was Arrested For Aggravated Robbery appeared first on Bossip. SEE ALSO Skai Jackson Shares Sweet Snaps Of 6-Month-Old Son Kasai Days After Ex Deondre Burgin Was Arrested For Aggravated Robbery was originally published on
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Appeal launched to save life of five month-old Wicklow baby with rare condition
Born with biliary atresia with splenic malformation, which affects her liver and other vital organs, Millie Doyle-Keegan from Aughrim has already endured so much despite her young age, but has persevered like a trooper and done so with a smile on her face. In the days after her birth, Millie's mother, Sarah Doyle, knew something was not right, despite her newborn being cleared for jaundice. The mother of three's concerns were dismissed at a subsequent hospital visit, before she and her husband, Richie Keegan, finally received a conclusive diagnosis. 'She had all the symptoms of this disease – pale poo, dark urine, a swollen tummy and jaundice,' Sarah recalled. 'So, I brought her to the hospital, but they told me there's nothing wrong. The following week, I brought her back to Holles Street, where I had her, and they did a blood test and an ultrasound. 'The next day, we went to Crumlin Hospital, and within three days, we were told, all in one breath, that she had biliary atresia with splenic malformation, and that the Kasai procedure to address it could only be done in London. 'It was a huge shock, but also a big relief, as we knew there was something wrong, and at least we finally had an answer.' After undergoing the surgery in April, it sadly didn't work for baby Millie, whose liver is continuing to fail. The only option left to save her life now is a liver transplant at King's College Hospital in London, a journey comes with huge emotional and financial pressure for her family, between travel costs, time off work, accommodation London and ongoing medical care. To help ease the burden on Sarah and Richie so they can focus on Millie, while also looking after their two young boys, Lee and Matthew, a GoFundMe page was launched by Sarah's friend Heather that has already raised €7,744. 'A few people in the community had come to us about doing a fundraiser, but we had said to hold off, because we had to travel to London in April, and if all went well there, we wouldn't have needed it,' Sarah said. 'When the surgery didn't work, I was really embarrassed about the idea, but Heather pressed home to me that we had a sick child, and people wanted to help. 'We have such a great community here in Aughrim, and I can't believe how generous people have been. We're blown away by it. 'There are a lot of bills to pay, between flying back and forth and accommodation, so it will make a huge difference to us, and we can't thank everyone enough.' Asked about the next steps for Millie, Sarah said they will fly to London in August for an assessment, after which Millie will be placed on a liver transplant list. From then on, the family must be on alert 24 hours a day and ready to catch a flight at a moment's notice. 'Once we're on that list, we have to be ready 24/7, and we can't travel 80 kilometres outside our house,' Sarah said. 'If they ring us to say the liver is available, there's an ambulance 20 minutes away, we have to be ready to get out to the ambulance, go straight to the airport and straight to London. 'We could be waiting one or two years, depending on whether her condition gets worse, and she'll be moved up. I'm praying that someone from the family will match her.' Looking to the future, Sarah said she feels 'blessed' by her plucky daughter's attitude, with her smile and personality shining throughout the challenges of her young life. 'She will have a long road ahead, and even when she gets the liver transplant, there's still that chance of rejection or her immune system being compromised,' she said. 'Millie was actually born without a gallbladder, and she has loads of little spleens, which don't fight off infection as well as one big one. 'I'm so blessed that she has just taken everything in her stride, and it gives us hope for the future. 'If any of us were going through what she has, we'd be winging all the time. We're in and out of hospital for weeks at a time, or up and down for blood tests and ultrasounds – but she just smiles her way through it. The nurses in Crumlin love her because she's just so relaxed and calm. 'It's a blessing that she's such a good baby, and you can really see her personality shining through.' To support baby Millie, visit
Zawya
14-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
Turning the Tide: Democratic Republic of Congo's Emergency Food Production Project Sows Resilience, Plants Hope
In the early morning, the fields stretch as far as the eye can see, bathed in the soft light of the rising sun. In Kwilu, Kasai, and Tshopo provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rural communities are reclaiming their land with renewed energy. Here, every furrow in the earth tells a story of resilience and hope. These fertile lands have long been trapped in a vicious circle of poor-quality seed, limited access to fertilizers, outdated farming techniques, low yields, and unstable incomes. A tradition of subsistence farming has confined families to day-to-day survival, leaving them vulnerable to climate shocks and food crises. That has changed thanks to the deployment of the Emergency Food Production Project ( (PURPA in the French acronym), which is being implemented by the African Development Bank ( as part of the African Emergency Food Production Facility ( The project aims to restore food production in the most vulnerable rural areas of the DRC as rapidly as possible. Large-scale distribution of seeds and other agricultural inputs lies at the heart of the project and has delivered a decisive impact: More than 325 tonnes of rice, 388 tonnes of maize and 1.4 million linear metres of cassava cuttings have been distributed, far exceeding initial forecasts. 49,749 farming households have been reached, primarily women, who are often on the front line in the battle to feed their families. Villagers in the communities covered by the project are enthusiastic, reflecting a rebirth of hope as the fields come back to life. The seed is in the ground and local people believe the harvest should be sufficient to meet their families' needs while leaving a surplus for sale on the market. Beyond the distributions, PURPA has strengthened the capacities of agricultural research stations such as the one at Kiyaka in Kwilu province in the centre of the country, enabling local production of improved maize and rice seeds. Over 100 tonnes of maize seed, 33 tonnes of rice and 2.55 million cassava cuttings have been produced. The distribution of 334 tonnes of fertilizer also offers a guarantee of suitable and affordable seeds for future seasons. Targeted training programmes have also been launched. The Project financed the training of 300 managers and administrative staff, 30% of whom were women, using the "farmers' field-school" approach with a focus on seed production and technical itineraries. These initiatives not only improve yields but also strengthen the capacities of women and agricultural cooperatives. A final push to distribute fertilizer and seed produced by the research centres is scheduled for the coming months. Multiple outcomes are expected: increased farm incomes through the sale of surpluses; the creation of new economic opportunities, particularly for women and young people; significant improvement in food security with a reduction of lean periods; and the development of more autonomous agriculture that is less dependent on external aid. Local authorities in several provinces are also observing a reduction in rural exodus as young people return to their towns to participate in this new-style agriculture, attracted by more promising prospects. For these communities, the Emergency Food Production Project is not just a response to the global food crisis. It is a veritable "school of resilience" where solidarity, local know-how and agricultural innovation support and encourage each other. In these regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, farming is no longer just about survival. In these newly seeded fields, it has become a means of development, investment, and heritage. Much remains to be done, but the transformation is underway. In these once fragile rural lands, a conviction is taking root: change, from now on, comes from here. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Health
- USA Today
This 1-year-old desperately needed a new liver. Her dad saved her life.
Hear this story Ross Marsh's daughter was only 2-days old when he knew something was wrong. His baby girl, Mackenzie, had turned yellow with jaundice. When the jaundice didn't clear up, Mackenzie was referred to the Children's Hospital Colorado. A liver biopsy later confirmed her doctor's suspicion: Mackenzie had biliary atresia, a disorder that appears in only about one in 12,000 babies, according to Cleveland Clinic. Mackenize underwent a procedure for the condition, but it wasn't enough. She needed a new liver in order to survive. "It was scary. It was nerve wracking," says Marsh, who is a firefighter in Colorado − as is his wife, Jennah. "At least in my line of work, we see horrible (stuff) all the time happening to people. ... This is just our cross to bear." Luckily, Marsh came to Mackenzie's rescue. He discovered he was a donor match for Mackenzie and could give her part of his liver. Thanks to robotic technology, surgeons at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital could perform the transplant with such great precision that Marsh was out of the hospital and back by then-8-month-old Mackenzie's bedside in two days. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "Eventually, she had her little smile back, and that was a big win for all of us," Marsh says. "Once we started to see her smile, we knew that things were getting better for her. She's just a smiley, happy little baby." Kids die waiting for liver transplants. This dad gave his baby daughter his own. Biliary atresia is a disease in which a baby's bile ducts become obstructed, meaning bile can't get out of the liver and into the intestine. Mackenzie first underwent a Kasai procedure to remove the blockage, but remained jaundiced and had trouble gaining weight. All in all, Marsh says his daughter spent about six months in and out of the hospital before her liver transplant. She needed a feeding tube through her nose due to malnutrition. "They put a central line into her bloodstream to deliver nutrition because her body just wasn't absorbing and processing it correctly," he says. "We ended up going in for a possible infection right before Christmas." Marsh and his wife had anticipated their daughter might need a new liver, so they got to work to make sure they were as healthy as possible, should they be donor matches. They didn't drink much to begin with but cut alcohol out entirely. They were already in good shape due to their jobs, but upped their workout regimens even more. "My wife and I both put in for the transplant," Marsh says. "And I was a positive match, just by luck." Many people need liver transplants, but people are often stuck waiting months for a potential match. The national average wait time for a liver transplant is about eight months. The average waitlist time at Children's Colorado for a pediatric liver transplant, thankfully, is shorter: less than two. One dad talked about the 'mental load': Then the backlash hit. Finding a donor fast can mean the difference between life and death. 'There are millions of healthy adults in the world who could be living donors, and yet, every year, about 40 children die across the United States, because no liver is available for them,' Dr. Amy Feldman, the medical director of Children's Hospital Colorado's liver transplant program, says. 'I dream of a world where living donor liver transplant prevents any child from dying on the waitlist.' Though Mackenzie's circumstances were grim, Marsh says he and his wife still found ways to stay grateful amid the challenges. Fellow firefighters stepped up to cover their shifts, so they could be with their daughter in the hospital. They also had insurance for the costly procedures, not something every family in similar straits can say. "When you live at the hospital for five, six months, there's terminally ill kids that are heartbreaking all (around you)," Marsh says. "So, we were able to rationalize: She can have a full, happy, healthy life once we get through this. And she's so young, she won't remember it." How he's celebrating Father's Day Now, Mackenzie is happy, healthy and rambunctious. She's been off her feeding tube since late April. Marsh calls in via Zoom from his home, where he says Mackenzie has been scooting around on the floor. "She's just McKenzie. She just likes to be a handful," he says. "Now, we're trying to figure out what normal life is for her. She's starting to not crawl yet, but she can scoot around, so she's just not such a little potato anymore. So now she's ending up underneath chairs and tables." Though they're out of the hospital, some signs of their family's medical saga linger. For instance, both Marsh and Mackenzie now have scars on their stomachs, right over their livers. "I think it's a pretty cool connection," he says. "We both have scars, and we'll be able to celebrate the anniversaries of the donation and make it, hopefully, exciting for her and not be a hindrance of like, 'Oh, I got this scary scar.'" Father's Day this year is also going to be different. Marsh says he has to spend it on duty − something he's used to as a firefighter. But, to him, holidays are the days you decide to celebrate them, not the days that come marked on the calendar. What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter Like so many other parents, Marsh says having a child has changed his outlook on life. "It's amazing how your perspective of what's important in life changes from before fatherhood till after fatherhood," he says. "I told Jennah before the surgery, 'If things go bad, make sure they get the liver. I don't care if I don't make it. She's number one. I'm number two.' Whether it's the surgery or just in life in general, to me she's more important."
