Family mourns after baby boy dies while waiting for liver transplant

Kerry Justich
·Health and Wellness Staff Writer
The parents of 5-month-old Marcus Albers are mourning his death after he became too ill for a liver transplant. (Photo: WITI)
The parents of 5-month-old Marcus Albers are mourning his death after he became too ill for a liver transplant. (Photo: WITI)

The parents of a 5-month-old boy in Wisconsin announced the tragic passing of their son on Wednesday while they were awaiting a liver transplant for him at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Whitney and Tony Albers’ son, Marcus, was born with a rare genetic disorder called Immunodeficiency 47, and he had recently experienced liver failure. According to Wisconsin news station WITI, the doctor had informed the family that the little boy had just weeks to live without a donor. But when they thought they found the perfect match and arrived for a scheduled surgery on April 2, they encountered more disappointment.

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“We thought that we would be talking about him in surgery right now,” Whitney told WITI. Instead, the family was pleading for more possible donors after finding out that their initial donor wasn’t actually a match.

Unable to donate parts of their own livers, the parents were forced to sit by their son and play the waiting game. But as of Wednesday morning, it was too late.

According to a statement from the family obtained by WITI, the 5-month-old “passed away peacefully in [his parents’] arms with his caring Doctors, loving nurses, and amazing staff by his side.”

Whitney, Tony and Dominic Albers were by Marcus' side through weeks in the hospital. (Photo: gofundme)
Whitney, Tony and Dominic Albers were by Marcus' side through weeks in the hospital. (Photo: gofundme)

Now, while the Albers reflect on the time they had with their son, who is their second child, they’re also reflecting on how the living donor screening process failed him.

“We want to especially thank the individual(s) that were screened and selected for transplant, but ultimately did not qualify. There was no disappointment from us. The donor’s health was just as important as Marcus’,” their statement read in part. “However, our disappointment does lie with the living donor screening process. There should have been a better system in place to handle the large volume of selfless people attempting to call and be screened. This would have made it more likely that Marcus would have matched with multiple qualified living donors. Due to the limitations of this screening process, Marcus became too ill for surgery while waiting for matches.”

The Albers’ went on to encourage people to continue to take part in the donor donation process and put their name down on the Wisconsin Donor Registry to help children like Marcus. A friend of the family continues to receive donations to cover medical expenses on a GoFundMe page.

“Our son would have been so proud at the overwhelming attention given to children waiting for organs. Unfortunately, his organs were not healthy enough to donate,” the family wrote. “Keep him and his brother Dominic in your thoughts and prayers. All of you will be kept in ours. Thank you again.”

The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin didn’t immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. However, the Transplant Center sent a statement to WITI, which included a similar plea for people to become donors, while additionally thanking Marcus’ potential donors.

“Our care teams are grieving with the Albers. Their family is in our thoughts and have our deepest sympathy. Nobody should have to endure the loss of a child,” the statement said. “We are grateful for how our community stepped forward in such a remarkable way to support the Albers family. Thousands of individuals signed up to be evaluated as potential donors.”

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