Growing up with a liver transplant - from grade school to high school

Six years ago, Willow Allen received a liver transplant. Now, she’s enjoying a full life as a teenager

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

She attended her first Homecoming dance, joined the varsity cheer squad, and swam in the ocean. These might be typical milestones for some teenagers. For Willow Allen they are sweet memories that she experienced after a life-saving transplant.

Willow was born at IU Health North on Jan. 14, 2010. At about six weeks old, her mother, Nicole Hurt, noticed her infant daughter was jaundiced. Her local pediatrician referred Willow to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health where tests showed she had a liver disease. Essentially she was born with Biliary Atresia, a disease of the liver where the bile ducts are blocked, or absent. The condition is common among 4.47 of 100,000 births and is more prominent among females.

At her worst, Willow scratched and scratched her irritated skin until she bled. In December of 2017, a biopsy showed a mass on Willow’s liver. On Feb. 18, 2018, she underwent a liver transplant in the care of Dr. Richard Mangus.

In the years since, Willow, 14, has excelled in gymnastics and cheer. In Middle School, her team took fist place in the Indiana State Fair competition. She’s traveled to Florida and Texas with her all-star cheer squad and dedicates two days a week to private tumbling lessons.

She recently wore a sequined lavender dress to her first Homecoming dance and this month she will join her cheer squad displaying green ribbons in their hair. October is “Liver Cancer Awareness Month,” and emerald green is the symbolic color.

She continues taking anti-rejection medications twice daily, blood draws monthly, and checkups every six months. At Riley she is in the care of Dr. Kyla Tolliver.

As a freshman at Cascade High School in Clayton, Ind. Willow says her favorite subject is Algebra. She hopes to get married and have children one day, and pursue a career in radiology.

“Most people from elementary school know I had a transplant but there are a lot of people in high school who aren’t aware,” said Willow. “She’s not afraid to wear the crop tops and show her scar,” her mom said. “When little girls asked what happened to my stomach, it gives me a chance to share about my transplant and how I have overcome some challenges.” said Willow.