Quick action and expert care saves Willow’s life

When baby Willow was born, everything seemed perfect. She was healthy and alert. Willow joined her big brother at home just a few days after she was born. But that first night home, something felt off—Willow was unusually sleepy, refusing to eat, and not wetting her diaper. Alarmed, Gina and her husband, Jarret, quickly sought medical care. Willow became unresponsive, and her local hospital wasn’t equipped to help her. That’s when the Norton Children’s “Just for Kids” Transport Team stepped in, transporting Willow to the NICU, where a multidisciplinary team worked tirelessly to uncover the cause of her critical condition. After testing, doctors discovered dangerously high ammonia levels caused by citrullinemia, a rare genetic disorder. Emergency dialysis stabilized Willow, and over time, she began to improve. Her journey continued with a successful liver transplant, made possible when Jarret became her living donor. Today, Willow is a thriving, joyful baby, smiling, growing, and meeting milestones every day.