[MUSIC PLAYING] Conor is a very exuberant, very active, robust, big boy. Our family physician called and said that he screened positive for maple syrup urine disease. Maple syrup urine disease is a condition where they are lacking an enzyme. If it is missing, they can tolerate little to no protein. 

We had no idea-- was this a life or death situation, was he going to be OK, was he going to have mental impairments? And of course, I dissolved into tears. 

They told us to stop feeding him. They admitted him right away. And when they were starting the IV, he actually stopped breathing. 

It's your child. You wonder if he's going to live. Or if he will live, what kind of quality of life will he have? 

In Conor's case, it's a straighter shot for him to go to UVA. And so when his parents learned that they had the option to go there, they took the option immediately. 

Daryl and I talked about it, and I said I'm calling them. I want to get this done. In Virginia, we would have a much shorter wait time. 

Conor and his family came to UVA through this new partnership that we have with the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. 

Well, there was many times with Conor that we would come together and pray about it. 

Without a liver transplant, Conor would need to drink a special protein-free formula for his entire life. And he would be at risk for irreversible neurologic damage. 

Yeah. Conor's story made him a great candidate. His metabolic control, despite being managed very well, really was putting him in danger of long-term neurologic complications. 

So I called, got in contact with Shelly. 

When they decided that they wanted to come to UVA and dual list-- got the process rolling so that they could spend two days here and go through the evaluation and meet all the team 

I quickly learned that Dr. Rasmussen is just wonderful. 

The relationship you have with the transplant kids is a very special one because you're going to be in these children's lives for a long, long time. 

The surgical care team was excellent. 

There's nothing better about my job than the families that I get to meet and care for. 

Conor can look forward to a pretty normal, active life. 

I would say definitely come to UVA. Even when it's good times and through the bad times, you can feel that they really are genuinely there for you. 

That kid can do anything. I hope he does wonderful things with his life, you know. I've told his mom he'll get married one day, and I'll be at his wedding. I feel sure. 

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