Chelmsford toddler recovering from liver transplant for Alagille syndrome

Morning North7:29Sudbury toddler fights rare genetic disorder

Host Megan Thomas has the story of a Chelmsford toddler who just underwent a liver transplant to help her battle a rare genetic disorder.A Greater Sudbury toddler is recovering at a Toronto hospital after getting a much needed liver transplant.

Now, Elyarra Joly's family is waiting to see if the operation will help her illness — Alagille syndrome.

The rare genetic disorder mostly affects the two-year-old's liver and heart, causing jaundice, bumps and a persistent itch.

Her respite worker Lenni Philion said it's hard to give her relief.

"Sometimes the only thing that seems to help her is for her mom to pick her up and and give her a hug."

Elyarra's mom Elizabeth Judd said doctors at Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital told her that her daughter's condition could improve with a liver transplant.

Finding a donor wasn't easy, and Elyarra's condition began to decline. Finally, this week, they learned an anonymous donor came through.

"There's lots of things that can go wrong, but it's so good for her to be able to have this gift of life," she said.

"I'll be able to see her beautiful eyes. Her skin won't be yellow anymore. The bumps on her skin will eventually go away."

Judd said it should take about a week for Elyarra to recover. She's hopeful the family will then be able to live a normal life.

"I look forward to the days where this will all be behind us and we can just let her be a child. Let her be a kid."

The family has a Go Fund Me page to help pay for Elyarra's medical bills, which Judd said amount to more than $2,000 each month.