News
Mother struggles financially, emotionally with daughter's Alpha-1 liver disease
GAS CITY, IN—A six-year-old girl who raised money for her community now needs help in getting through a liver disease.
Makinzie Davis was named Miss Fourth of July in Gas City by raising $350 for the city. Two months later, the young girl was diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Makinzie’s mother Katie Davis said the disease prevents blood from filtering through the girl’s liver. Her liver is clogged and 50 percent damaged. Her spleen also is swollen. She cannot ride a bicycle or take dance lessons, for fear of injuring her liver or spleen, her mother said.
Though the disease is genetic and Makinzie was born with it, the family didn’t find out about it until September. The little girl began vomiting blood. She was taken to the hospital, and later transferred to Riley Hospital for Children because of her swollen organs. After many tests, the deficiency disorder was diagnosed.
“It was hard,” Katie Davis said. “I was OK when we finally figured out what it was.”
