05/30/2025
Dear Friends and Family,
I’m reaching out today to ask for your help in sharing our son’s story, in hopes of finding a living liver donor to change his life for the better.
Our sweet baby boy, Joziah Zertuche, is just one year old. He’s our first and only child — and he’s already shown us what it means to be strong and resilient. When Joziah was born, he was sent to the NICU because he tested positive for GBS. During his stay, the doctors ran some labs and noticed his amino acids were a little high. They drew some more blood, but Joziah was discharged from the hospital before we got the results back. We only had him home for a day when I got a call to take Joziah to the emergency room. His blood results showed his amino acids had spiked higher than his first results. He spent the next four days in the hospital, where he was officially diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder called Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD).
Since Joziah's diagnosis, our days have been filled with carefully measuring every drop of his milk, using a scale to weigh out his food, and monitoring his levels to make sure they stay in a safe range. We have regular appointments with his dietitian and specialist to make sure Joziah is getting the right amount of protein needed to grow. Even in the early days of his diagnosis, his specialist mentioned that a liver transplant could offer him a better, more stable life. We were told he’d need to meet a certain weight to be considered for a transplant. We’re now at the weight range, and we’re ready to give him the chance at a healthier, more carefree life.
We want Joziah to grow up without the constant stress of managing this disease. We want him to run, play, and go to school without the fear of what might happen if his levels spike. We want him to live.
That’s why we’re asking for your help.
Please share Joziah’s story with your networks. You never know who might see it — and who might be willing to step forward and become his hero.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about becoming a living liver donor, please visit https://www.utclivingdonor.com/
To learn more about the living liver donation process, you can also visit http://universityhealth.com/LivingLiverDonation
Thank you for taking the time to read about our baby boy. Your support, prayers, and shares mean the world to us.
With love and hope,
Joziah's mommy & daddy💚
