Colten, 12, has Biliary Atresia, a rare, life-threatening disease that affects one in every 10,000-15,000 children.

Biliary Atresia causes scarring and blockage in the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. In infants with Biliary Atresia, bile can’t flow into the intestine. The damage leads to scarring, loss of liver tissue and function and cirrhosis.

Colten underwent multiple surgeries as an infant. One of those was the Kasai procedure, which removes damaged bile ducts and uses a loop of the infant’s own small intestine to replace the damaged bile ducts. Despite the surgeries’ success, Colten still suffered gradual liver damage.

In May 2020, Colten was diagnosed with Hepatopulmonary Syndrome, a rare lung complication from liver disease. In September, the family met with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital liver team for a two-day transplant evaluation. Colten was short-listed to receive a new liver. After 4 months of waiting he received his transplant in February 2021.

We are so happy to have been able to stay at Nationwide Children’s (instead of transferring to another facility) where he was diagnosed as an infant and be one of the first to continue care and receive a liver transplant here. The team of doctors and specialists they have brought to NCH for the transplant program are an incredible group of people. I feel like they are part of our family.

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• Name: Colten M.Colten Mustard
• Condition(s): Biliary Atresia, Liver Transplant
• Age at Treatment: newborn
• Age Today: 10/11/200815 Years

Colten, 12, has Biliary Atresia, a rare, life-threatening disease that affects one in every 10,000-15,000 children.

Biliary Atresia causes scarring and blockage in the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. In infants with Biliary Atresia, bile can’t flow into the intestine. The damage leads to scarring, loss of liver tissue and function and cirrhosis.

Colten underwent multiple surgeries as an infant. One of those was the Kasai procedure, which removes damaged bile ducts and uses a loop of the infant’s own small intestine to replace the damaged bile ducts. Despite the surgeries’ success, Colten still suffered gradual liver damage.

In May 2020, Colten was diagnosed with Hepatopulmonary Syndrome, a rare lung complication from liver disease. In September, the family met with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital liver team for a two-day transplant evaluation. Colten was short-listed to receive a new liver. After 4 months of waiting he received his transplant in February 2021.

We are so happy to have been able to stay at Nationwide Children’s (instead of transferring to another facility) where he was diagnosed as an infant and be one of the first to continue care and receive a liver transplant here. The team of doctors and specialists they have brought to NCH for the transplant program are an incredible group of people. I feel like they are part of our family.