Here’s a look at some well known people with connections to biliary atresia..
Kendall Ciesemier, 16, was born with biliary atresia and received two liver transplants in 2004. That’s a lot for anyone to go through, but that’s not why she was selected a 2009 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Hero. As she was recovering from her transplants she decided to try to help AIDS orphans in Africa. She asked friends and family to donate to World Vision instead of sending her get well flowers and gifts. Her small fundraiser quickly caught on and grew into a nonprofit organization called Kids Caring 4 Kids. To date, her organization has raised more than $740,000 to benefit African children impacted by AIDS. Kendall’s goal is to raise 1 million. Another goal is to inspire kids to become involved in charities. She is a remarkable young lady and an inspiration to people of all ages.
I always enjoyed Eddie Rabbitt’s music and his song “I Love A Rainy Night” is still a favorite. Back in the 80’s when Eddie was on the radio a lot, I didn’t know about his son Timmy who was born with biliary atresia. Timmy died in 1985 after an unsuccessful liver transplant. Afterward Eddie became active in promoting organ donation. Here’s an article from People Magazine about Eddie and his son. Eddie passed away in 1998 at 56.
Did you know that the American Liver Foundation was founded by the mother of a child with biliary atresia? Thelma King Thiel’s son Dean died in 1970 at the age of 4 from complications of liver disease. His short life sent Ms. Thiel on a mission that has positively impacted a great many lives. She served as President & Chief Operating Officer of the American Liver Foundation for 15 years. In 1994 she founded Hepatitis Foundation International. Here’s a great article about Thelma King Thiel that appeared in The Gazette, 2006.
People always ask how long a liver transplant will last. No one knows for sure, but so far Kim Hudson Rasmussen is the world’s longest living liver transplant survivor. She’s had her new liver for 39 years and she’s still going strong. Kim was born with biliary atresia and received her new liver in 1970. Dr. Starzl performed her surgery and wrote about her successful transplant in his memoir, The Puzzle People. Kim keeps a low profile and says she doesn’t like to talk too much about her liver transplant for fear of jinxing it. Here’s a picture of Kim taken in 2006 at an event honoring Dr. Starzl. She’s standing in the back.
Anyone with any connection to biliary atresia knows about Dr. Morio Kasai the Japanese surgeon who developed the Kasai Procedure, the first line of defense in the battle against biliary atresia. Dr. Kasai died in 2008 at the age of 86. The Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons published a tribute to Dr. Kasai which details his professional accomplishments as well as personal insights into this brilliant, gentle man:
“Dr. Kasai gave to his disciples a personally hand-written copy of the word “Soshin”, simple mind, when they left his department after completing surgical training. He believed that a surgeon should keep a simple and modest mind, and that too much decoration was of no use for a good surgeon. He himself was really a man of modesty.”
Catherine Herridge, a reporter for Fox News, just might be the most famous living liver donor in the U.S. Catherine’s son Peter was born with biliary atresia and she donated a portion of her liver to him in 2006. In 2008 she was a keynote speaker at the U.S. Transplant Games. Here’s a 2008 interview on YouTube where she talks about her son’s transplant and the importance of organ donation.
