Houston girl waits 7 years for organ transplant

Joey Knott was born with Berdon syndrome

HOUSTON – A Houston girl has a bright future ahead of her after waiting seven years for an organ transplant.

Joey Knott was born with Berdon syndrome, also known as MMIHS.

"It's a fancy word for saying she has a giant bladder and very little intestine and she's unable to digest or move her food," said Cat Kennedy, Joey's mother.

She said when Joey was born, doctors said she didn't stand a chance.

"One morning I came in and she had been unplugged from all of her machines and there was a hospice worker waiting for me," Kennedy said.

But Kennedy refused to give up. For the first seven years of her life Joey couldn't eat solid food and she spent most of her days in and out of hospitals, waiting for the organs she needs to survive.

"We had a couple calls from the donor list, but all of them fell through," Kennedy said.

Finally in December 2014, they got the call they had been waiting for. "Joey was so excited!"

They flew from Texas to Pennsylvania, where Joey basically received a new digestive system from a little girl who died in Tennessee.

"I have no words," Kennedy said. "I don't even know what I could say to the family who made such a huge sacrifice for us."

Life post-transplant has not been easy. For the first year Joey was in and out of the hospital with infections. She also has to wear a mask almost all day because of a weak immune system. She has to carry a backpack with her to keep her hydrated.

"But she's a tough little girl and every single one of these infections, every single one of these hospitalizations, she fights it to get back home so she can go out and play," Kennedy said.

Most recently Joey has been doing well, having fun being her energetic self. It's all thanks to one family who decided to make a life-saving decision.

"You're not only giving a person a new lease on life, you're giving a family a new lease on life," Kennedy said.

To help fund Joey’s medical expenses, check out her GoFundMe page.