Though FedEx makes countless important deliveries daily, one of their most important yet was a 2-year-old girl named Brooklyn who was in need of a liver transplant. Brooklyn suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Alagille syndrome, which hinders her liver from disposing waste.
The Memphis-based couple, who adopted Brooklyn in China, knew of her condition and that she needed a transplant as soon as possible.
Brooklyn’s adoptive parents, Jesse and Nicholas Faris, had been eagerly waiting for almost a year until on Wednesday, February 24, they received that much awaited call: Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital had finally found a suitable donor for Brooklyn.
Sadly, they couldn’t fly to Chicago, where the transplant was scheduled to be performed, because all flights were cancelled due to horrible weather conditions.
Running out of time
They knew their options were to wait to fly the next day or to charter a flight which would set them back about $10,000.
When the family’s plea was shared on social media, shipping giant FedEx came across it and contacted the couple.
They were to be at the airport in 30 minutes.
“So we got to the airport in about 15 minutes and there was a corporate jet waiting for us that was fueled up and ready to go,” Nicholas told Fox 32.
They arrived in Chicago at 10pm and just a few hours later Brooklyn was prepped for surgery. The operation took about 13 hours.
Doctors gave Brooklyn a positive prognosis.
“I would think at this point really excellent. Usually the first 24 hours are the most critical, and in her case it’s gone well,” Dr. Riccardo Superina told Fox.
A FedEx spokesman described the Faris’ situation as an ‘extraordinary circumstance. “We were just extremely proud to be able to step up — in particular when it was a child in real need — and apply our areas of expertise for someone in our hometown,” he said.
The couple are overjoyed and filled with gratitude to the liver donor and, of course, to FedEx who helped save their daughter’s life.
“You really see the good in people in a situation like this,” Nicholas told the Chicago Tribune. “People come out of the woodwork to help.”
READ: Mother hears son’s donated heart beating inside the girl who received transplant
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