Pocono News Section

Woman Donates Liver to Niece

Woman Donates Liver to Niece - Friday, December 25, 2009 at 1:54PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Friday, Dec 25, 2009 @ 01:54pm EST

WEATHERLY, CARBON COUNTY -- Many people stress over what gifts to give family members for Christmas. One little girl from this area needed the gift of life, and her aunt made sure she received just that.

We introduced you to Kendra Moyer in November. She's a two-year-old girl with a lot of life to live, but a rare liver disorder could've kept her from doing that, until her aunt stepped in to donate a portion of her liver to save her niece's life.

"I live my life I guess you could say pretty spiritually," said Kendra's aunt, Laura Mazur. "I'm a pretty strong Christian, and the Bible says you should always look for opportunities to give."

Doctors told Kendra's family last year that she'd need a liver transplant in order to survive. Her Aunt Laura was the first person besides Kendra's parents to get tested.

"I was the right blood type, and so we just kept going with the testing from there," said Mazur.

One year of testing later, the transplant surgery was scheduled. Kendra received her new liver last week at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Her mom, Leslie Moyer, talked to us over the phone from the hospital. She recalls how she felt during the operation, which started one day and lasted into the next.

"Very stressful, being my sister was in the other operating room and my daughter was in one," said Moyer.

The surgery was a success. Moyer told us, the first couple days Kendra was in pain and cried a lot, until her Aunt Laura came in the room, as if she understood the gift she was given.

"Spending a week in the hospital afterwards, I couldn't wait to wake up and get ready to go over to see Kendra every day," said Mazur.

Kendra started experiencing mild rejection issues a couple days ago, but her mom says it's normal, and doctors hope medicine will help her body accept the new liver.

She hopes to have Kendra home by the new year, but costs are piling up -- from Kendra's medical bills, to food and lodging costs, to Mazur's medical expenses and lost time from work.

"Plus, my husband traveling back and forth and trying to work and see his daughter at the same time, so it's been pretty expensive," said Moyer.

While they hope people who can help, do, they know the gift of life is priceless.

"I can honestly never thank my sister enough for what she's done for our family and my daughter," said Moyer. "She really loves our little girl, but we'll forever be indebted to her."

"Hopefully this will give her everything she'll need to go out there and make a difference in the world," said Mazur, "The way that God sent her here to do."

The Moyer family is appreciative of any donations towards the cost of the surgeries, traveling, and time off work. If you're interested in helping, or want to learn more about Kendra's liver disease, copy and paste the following link in your web browser: www. love4kendra. com