Teen needs $60 million for liver transplant

After he started experiencing extreme fatigue and was later forced to abandon his Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams, 18- year old Jevaun Taylor's curiosity about his health grew. The youngster later found out in May that he has been ailing from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a liver ailment which can kill him if he doesn't get a transplant.

"If my liver starts swelling and I'm not able to get a liver transplant, I will die because I can't live without a functioning liver for long," he told THE STAR.

The aspiring entrepreneur, who was about to sit his Unit Two CAPE exams at Kingston College, says he is emotionally drained.

"I don't know if I will be able to be an entrepreneur and live a normal life, because the disease takes away most of my energy. I think about the fact that I won't be able to enrol in a university because as it is, I have no energy to do anything," said Jevaun. His plans were to further his studies in business, becoming qualified enough to launch his own sportswear brand in honour of his father, who passed earlier this year. "I want to do something in sport just for my father because he was a lover of sport. Cricket was his favourite sport and he made me love it as well," he said. PSC, over time, damages the bile ducts, which play an important role in the digestion of fat in the liver. The ducts ultimately become blocked due to inflammation, and damage the liver, which loses its ability to function. Other than a liver transplant, there are no effective treatments. Life expectancy ranges from nine to 18 years after diagnosis.

Other than minimal energy levels, Jevaun has been suffering from severe weight loss due to loss of appetite, and skin discolouration.

Extremely disengaged

He also told THE STAR that he has become extremely disengaged and introverted because his features have changed drastically.

In an attempt to raise money for the liver transplant, Jevaun and his family have launched a GoFundMe account to raise US$400,000 (approximately J$60 million) for the surgery.

They have also sought assistance from relatives and friends. Jevaun says the hefty sum is a strain for his mother, who is a retired teacher.

After learning that the surgery is not offered in Jamaica, Jevaun's focus it to be added to a transplant list in the USA.

"I am scheduled to see a doctor at the Emory Hospital in Georgia to get evaluated, and I should be added to a list there," he said. "So I don't have a set time frame for the surgery yet, but I'm just trying to start raise the money from now." Jevaun says he is grateful to the persons who have already donated to his GoFundMe account, which has raised US$1,680.

"To others who will be willing to donate, I'm saying thanks, because this will assure me that I will be able to undergo my surgery," he said.