“A resource like the Registry would have been very helpful to me,” Alecia says. “But I am glad that my experience can be helpful to others considering pregnancy after transplant.”
Because she had two life-saving liver transplants as a child, Alecia was told she wouldn’t be able to have children. However, now 29 years old, Alecia has two beautiful daughters, Nailah and Nariyah.
“My kids are my sunshine,” Alecia says. “When I’m in a bad mood, all I need to do is look at them and my day is better.”
Alecia found out about the Transplant Pregnancy Registry International while attending Gift of Life’s annual Donor Dash for Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness. Having already given birth to her first child, she was approached by Howard M. Nathan, CEO and President of Gift of Life, about the program.
“Howard gave me his business card and connected me with the Registry,” Alecia explains. “A researcher called me and asked me some questions about my pregnancy. A resource like this would have been very helpful to me, but I am glad that my experience can be helpful to others considering pregnancy after transplant.”
As a child, Alecia felt isolated. She couldn’t go out and play tag or jump rope with her classmates because of her transplant. It wasn’t until she got older and gained a better understanding of her condition and care that she felt a sense of normalcy.
She hopes for a livelier childhood for her two girls.
“We love going to the park and feeding the fish,” Alecia shares. “My oldest daughter Nailah is climbing, flipping, and jumping everywhere. I want to sign her up for gymnastics classes.”
She also picked out special names for them.
“Nailah means successful,” Alecia says. “And Nariyah means bright light. It was important to me to name my daughters something representative of the women they are and will become.”
Because Alecia shared her story with the Transplant Pregnancy Registry International, women considering parenthood after transplant can access information that will help them make an informed decision on whether parenthood is right for them.
“Transplant recipients live in a different world than others,” she explains. “We have to look out for each other. I’m glad we have a resource like the Registry.”
Learn more about the Transplant Pregnancy Registry International here.