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Baby Fought for Life After Undetected Liver Condition
11 Jan
Summary
- Infant Mattie battled organ failure due to undiagnosed biliary atresia.
- A critical test at three days old flagged the liver condition.
- Mattie's lawsuit alleges delayed diagnosis led to severe complications.
A Florida infant, Mattie Beacham, endured a harrowing battle for survival after allegedly being born with an aggressive liver condition that went undetected for two months. Diagnosed with biliary atresia, a condition causing blocked bile ducts, Mattie's organs began to fail. Her parents assert that a critical direct bilirubin test performed three days after her birth on December 16, 2022, indicated the disease, but this vital information was withheld.
The delay meant the optimal window for a Kasai surgery, ideally within 30 days of life, was missed. By the time Mattie, then 63 days old, received the surgery on February 15, 2023, it was unsuccessful. This led to extensive hospitalizations, including 186 nights at one facility, where she faced a zero percent chance of survival and required 21 machines to support her organs.
Mattie eventually received a life-saving liver transplant in October 2023, but the ordeal has left her with lasting complications, including the loss of fingers and developmental delays. Her family is pursuing litigation, alleging negligence by Orlando Health, and has championed "Mattie's Law" to improve newborn screening for direct bilirubin tests in Florida.
