2019 Kaylee Rayburn

Name:                                     Kaylee Rayburn

Type of Donation:            Organ recipient

Age and Location:             Age 18 – Yukon, OK

Transplant Date:                 1/29/2001

Sponsor:                               Honored by Promethera Biosciences and LifeShare of OK

KAYLEE’S STORY

Kaylee Rayburn, of Yukon, Okla., was a very big blessing to her family with her arrival to the world. After birth, she was slightly jaundiced so the doctors did a few blood tests for precaution as she was being discharged. As her family walked into their house, the phone was ringing saying they needed to go back to the hospital for a few more tests.

The Rayburns packed up their new baby and headed back to the hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital, the family learned they would need to stay overnight. Kaylee’s mom, Karla, was devastated to leave her baby in the NICU. After many days of testing and eliminating, they told Kaylee’s family that she would need surgery to confirm a Biliary Atresia diagnosis.

At just five months old, Kaylee began her transplant journey. For the rest of her first year of life, she was in and out of the hospital. Her parents struggled watching her – she refused to eat, her stomach was giant and tight and she had trouble breathing. Karla would often sit on her bedside and sing songs or read to her.

A few weeks before Christmas, the doctors told her family that Kaylee would not go home alive without a transplant. In January of the next year, a liver came for Kaylee and the transplant was a success. While her family was thrilled she was given the gift of life, they mourned for the mother that had just lost a child and made a heart wrenching decision to save another’s life though organ donation.

Kaylee’s transplant has offered her a life full of all the things she loves. She has participated in many activities including horseback riding, gymnastics, softball, tennis and ballet. Like most teenage girls, she loves any excuse to buy a new dress. Kaylee works hard in school, and has visited beautiful places of the world – like Hawaii and Mexico. She’s thankful for her relationship with her younger sister and her best friend, Maddie.