LIVER STARS
Hi, I'm
Malakai Carey
For eleven years I was a normal, healthy kid. Everything changed about the time I entered middle school and my health massively declined.
Singer, Actor, Song Writer, Speaker, Liver Cancer Survivor and Liver Transplant Recipient
My name is Malakai Carey and here is my story. For eleven years, I was by all accounts a completely normal kid. However, just as I began middle school, my health massively declined. I was constantly sick, I lost a lot of weight, and worst of all, no one could explain why. More than one expert suggested the problem was all in my head. Doctors suggested other procedures but thankfully, my mom didn’t quit and asked for further scans. Despite the doctor’s assurance that an ultrasound would be pointless, the test revealed a tumor the size of a small football attached to my liver. The next day I was immediately driven down to Children's Hospital Los Angeles where I was biopsied and diagnosed with an extremely rare form of liver cancer in April of 2019.
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Hi, I'm
Molly Clark
I was born with Biliary Atresia. I want to raise awareness of liver disease, so no more babies need to suffer from this disease.
Basketball lover, Star Student, Charismatic Liver Disease Advocate, the story of Molly Clark:
“My liver disease isn’t a disease for me, it’s just me. I’m very positive and optimistic. I think of the glass as half full, I mean at least I still have half a drink left.” Molly Clark
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Molly was born December 30, 2009, and appeared to be a healthy baby. My husband and I were thrilled to have a gorgeous baby girl. Our little family’s hopes and dreams were coming true. But twenty-four hours after she was born, jaundice set in, and our happiness turned into worry. While jaundice is fairly normal in newborns and very treatable, Molly's jaundice was more serious and life-threatening. As her pediatrician checked her bilirubin every few hours, he took note that her liver was not processing and passing the bilirubin as it should. This discovery landed her in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and started the long ordeal of discovering what was wrong with her and how to save our precious baby girl.
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Hi, I'm
Aaron Jackson
I was born with Biliary Atresia. I also underwent both a liver and kidney transplant. However, this does not define me.
From the moment Aaron entered the world, his journey was marked by a unique challenge. Born with biliary atresia, a rare liver condition, his early life was filled with hospital visits and surgeries. Yet, even as a young child, Aaron defied expectations. The doctors predicted learning difficulties and stunted growth, but Aaron's spirit was indomitable. He excelled in school, embraced sports with passion, and radiated a joy that was simply infectious. His resilience was a beacon of hope, proving that limitations could be overcome with determination and a positive attitude.
Hi, I'm
Alyssa McCarty
I was diagnosed with Auto Immune Hepatitis when I was twelve, but that has not stopped me from pursuing my passions.
My Story
Let me introduce myself. I am Alyssa and I have auto-immune hepatitis. I was diagnosed at age 12 but that has not stopped me from pursuing my passions. My liver disease journey started in 2019 when I was getting routine blood work done for my annual physical. When my doctor received the results of my test it revealed that my liver enzyme levels were slightly elevated. I had no clue what this meant and did not even question that it could possibly affect the rest of my life. We debated on whether this could be because I was becoming healthier in terms of diet and exercise, or if this could be something more alarming and dangerous. I started off by getting an ultrasound to see if the doctors could see signs of liver damage or scarring. Following the ultrasound, I had many blood tests done to constantly check the level of my liver enzymes. I officially became a liver patient and began visiting my gastroenterologist, Dr. Grant, at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in April of 2019.
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In November of 2019, my doctor ordered a biopsy of the liver. At the time I did not understand what a biopsy meant nor that it could change my life. I asked many questions about the procedure until I felt comfortable with my knowledge of what was going to occur. For the most part I didn’t feel sick and was carrying on with my normal everyday life. After almost a year of not knowing what was causing my elevated liver enzymes, I longed for answers. My biopsy was scheduled for January of 2020.
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