WATERFORD, Wis. — Ten-month-old Westen Hagen needs a liver transplant, and his family is searching for a matching donor.
Westen has Alagille syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects his liver. His parents are encouraging people to consider organ donation.
"Westen is just joyful, playful, he's got the biggest smile," said his mom, Crystal Hagen.
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Family seeks liver donor for 10-month-old living with Alagille syndrome
Crystal calls Westen her miracle baby.
"We were trying for quite some time. We did have some infertility appointments and we had a miscarriage in between," Crystal said. She also has a daughter who is about seven years old.
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Crystal Hagen, Westen's mom
At a checkup when Westen was about six weeks old, his doctor noticed his jaundice hadn't gone away.
"They did bloodwork and it was kind of the same thing of, 'Oh no, pack your bags and come to the hospital now. We don't know what is going on, but it is not good,'" said Westen's dad, Taylor Hagen.
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Taylor Hagen, Westen's Dad
The family later learned Westen has Alagille syndrome.
"It's a fight I wish I could take from him," Crystal said.
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Westen Hagen
"His body is just...