Your lights reignite the magic in Jennily’s life. © Shoot Studio

Biliary atresia is the congenital liver disease that disrupted Jennily’s life early on. Six weeks after she was born, she was transferred from Chicoutimi to Sainte-Justine. An obstruction was causing bile to build up in her liver.

She underwent an operation known as the Kasai procedure to restore the flow of bile toward the intestinal tract. Although the initial results were promising, it wasn’t long until her condition worsened.

By 2023, her liver was showing signs of fatigue and her lung function was deteriorating. The holidays that year, as Jennily remembers them, were full of fear and worry, instead of the magic and excitement that most eight-year-old girls experience.

Jennily no longer fears for her life thanks to her care team at Sainte-Justine, which includes Dr. Fernando Alvarez, Stéphanie Dion, and Dr. Caroline Lemoine.

After months of forced bed rest waiting for a compatible donor, Jennily got the new liver she was waiting for. Thanks to people like you who keep the spark of hope alive at Sainte-Justine, the Tree of Lights worked its wonders.

The transplant has given her a new lease on life. Now she has two important dates to celebrate every year: her birthday and her rebirth.

Sainte-Justine is home to Quebec’s only pediatric liver transplant program. Its expertise is recognized the world over. By lighting the Tree of Lights, you will be bringing comfort to those who need it most and giving them access to talented professionals and state-of-the-art infrastructure right here in Quebec.

Thank you for making thousands of twinkling beacons of hope shine for young patients like Jennily, from Sainte-Justine to Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

➔Light Up the Tree