Layla battles rare illness

The family of a little Frankston girl is hoping to raise awareness of the rare disease that has kept her in hospital for the past two months.

Six-month-old Layla suffers from biliary atresia, which affects one in 18,000 Australian newborns each year and results in bile becoming trapped in the liver, culminating in liver failure.  Layla was diagnosed with the disease at seven weeks and a week later underwent an operation to join her bowel to her liver so the bile could drain away.  However, the operation was unsuccessful and she remains in the Royal Children's Hospital awaiting a transplant.

Her father, Andrew Saxon, said Layla needed to get to 8kg so there was more chance of finding a donor.

Layla’s grandfather, Terry Saxon, said Andrew and his partner, Aleisha, had been overwhelmed by the support shown by friends, well-wishers and groups such as the Southern Districts Rugby Club, and urged people to contact DonateLife and consider becoming organ donors.  Andrew also thanked friend Meg Ward, “who has been a massive support in setting up a gofundme and also setting up a mini auction to help raise funds for Layla”.

You can follow Layla’s progress on facebook.com/laylasfightwithBA/