MIRACLE MATTIE
ONCE AROUND THE SUN
Mattie Jaymes is considered by all of her physicians, surgeons, and hospital teams to be a true medical miracle. Born with an extremely rare disease called Biliary Atresia (only 200 cases in the United States per year) she had a failing liver from birth. Mattie slowly progressed her way through the bottom tier of the liver transplant waiting list for 8 months when tragedy struck overnight. She fell into a coma, sepsis, and complete organ failure becoming the sickest liver baby in the country. Listed as “Extreme Critical Condition”, her chances of survival were next to impossible and she was no longer eligible to get a transplant. While the doctors told her parents to say goodbye and the chaplain came to help Mattie pass peacefully into heaven, Mattie had a different plan and took them on a 75-day miraculous journey fighting for her right to live and defying all medical odds and wisdom. The story of my baby sister and how she changed how other babies are treated and given a chance to live is truly inspiring. I am excited to be working on a project to share her story in a moving documentary that seems too unbelievable to be true. The video will be presented as the keynote speech at the Proper 2024 conference in August this year. Prosper is the Restaurant and food industry's most important conference with the CEO's and Founders of the world's largest hospitality companies.