Kyle Carter

Type of Donation:          liver recipient

Age and Location:          Age 22 – Greenville, SC

Donation Date:                7/07/1997

Sponsor:                              Honored by Donate Life South Carolina

KYLE’S STORY

Kyle Carter was born March 17, 1997 in Greenville, SC. Soon, he developed what was initially thought to be normal newborn jaundice. This was quickly ruled out and Kyle was diagnosed with biliary atresia. This is a rare disease of the bile ducts, which affects only infants. Without treatment, it causes cirrhosis and ultimately liver failure.

Kyle immediately underwent treatment called the Kasai procedure, which is surgery to bypass the damaged and non-developed bile ducts to prevent liver damage. This is successful about twenty-five percent of the time, but it did not work for Kyle. A liver transplant was the only hope.

His parents immediately began the process to list Kyle on the transplant waiting list. At three months old, he was placed on the waiting list at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Kyle’s condition rapidly deteriorated and his parents were told to try additional listings in other regions. He was immediately scheduled for an evaluation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

On Kyle’s second day of evaluations, a liver became available in the region and there wasn’t a match already listed. Knowing how sick Kyle was, following a brief meeting with the Carters in the hospital hallway, his surgeon requested accelerated tests for Kyle. Against the odds, Kyle was a match and had a successful transplant the next morning.

Twenty-two years later, Kyle is a healthy young man. He is a senior at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina studying sports management and is on the baseball team. Kyle enjoys life with his family and friends, spending his spare time outside.

Kyle’s donor hero was Kelli Anne Garner. The Carters have met her family several times and say they will never be able to express enough gratitude to them. As a tribute to her, Kyle’s 17-year-old sister is also named Kelli Anne.

Honored to be a part of the Donate Life Rose Parade Float, Kyle hopes his participation will be a tribute to Kelli Anne and all donors. He also hopes to help increase awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation through his transplant story.