ATLANTA — Molly and Logan Cook's son, Liam, has spent the majority of his young life in the hospital after being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder just moments after his birth on March 1, 2023.
Doctors would soon diagnose Liam with an Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, which is characterized by the complete or partial lack of an enzyme that breaks down nitrogen in the body. The disorder can cause problems with breathing or body temperature, progressing to lethargy and coma.
Little Liam has spent the past nine months experiencing all of this, being in and out of Children's of Alabama where a special genetic team focused on infants has treated him.
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The only cure for an OTC deficiency right now is a liver transplant. Back in September both Molly and Logan weren't eligible matches to donate their liver. After several living donors fell through, doctors recently discovered that Liam had grown big enough to receive a transplant from his dad, Logan.
Over the weekend, the two traveled to Pittsburg to prepare for the surgery at UPMC. On Tuesday, they both underwent an hours-long surgery. The procedure was successful, and the pair are now recovering.
Liam's mom says doctors have warned her that the first year post-transplant can be the most difficult as Liam's body heals. The Cook family is expected to spend the next several months at UPMC.
Both Molly and Logan are unable to work right now as they care for their son, but friends and family have set a way to support the family here.