Boy With Advanced Liver Cancer Thriving After Lifesaving Living Organ Donation From Aunt

“We just could not believe our baby had cancer,” says Nicole Dearth, reflecting on the day she found out her 11-month-old son, Crew, had a rare form of liver cancer that had already spread to his lungs. She describes that day as a nightmare, one that marked the beginning of an unimaginable health journey for her youngest child.

“We were stunned. We were shocked. If I was standing up, I would have fell to the ground. I can't even describe what we were feeling the day we found out,” says Nicole of Clyde, Ohio.

She explains it all began in February 2025 when Crew came down with the flu. Over time, Nicole, a nurse, noticed he wasn’t improving. After a follow-up with his pediatrician, they suspected an ear infection. When that was ruled out, Nicole scheduled another appointment.

“He seemed very restless and cranky, which isn’t like him at all. A few days before the appointment, I also noticed his stomach changing. It seemed swollen and bloated,” says Nicole.

An ultrasound revealed Crew had an enlarged liver as well as a mass in his abdomen. Based on these findings and his blood test results, Nicole says they were referred to Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Further testing confirmed Crew had hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer affecting roughly one to two children per million in the U.S.

“The cancer involved all the lobes of Crew’s liver, and since it had spread to his lungs, he was diagnosed with stage 4 hepatoblastoma. He was facing the most aggressive form of the disease,” says Stefanie Thomas, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

After Crew’s diagnosis in March 2025, his care team acted quickly, starting him on a rigorous course of chemotherapy. He spent much of the next three months in the hospital for close monitoring.

While chemotherapy targets cancer cells, it can also affect healthy ones, leading to side effects. Crew required multiple blood and platelet transfusions, electrolyte replacements and a feeding tube to remain stable and help his body recover throughout treatment. Although these first few rounds of chemo were tough, Crew was heading in the right direction. Scans showed no signs of cancer remaining in his lungs, and the tumor in his liver shrank. But because of the tumor’s location, Crew would ultimately need a liver transplant as well.

“We couldn’t safely remove the entire tumor while preserving Crew’s liver function – it was intertwined with critical vessels that are essential to how the liver works,” says Dr. Thomas.

Crew was placed on the transplant waiting list, and one option being considered was a living liver donor. Typically organs for transplants come from deceased donors, but the liver is the only organ that can regenerate. That means it’s possible for a living donor to safely give a portion of their liver to someone in need. After surgery, the donor’s liver would regenerate, and the transplanted segment would grow along with the recipient.

For this to be possible, the donor and recipient must be medically compatible, accounting for factors like blood type, size and overall health. Although Nicole volunteered to be Crew’s donor, she wasn’t the first choice because his doctors prioritized her as a caregiver. But when Crew’s aunt Taylor learned he needed a transplant, she knew she wanted to be his donor.

“I felt like I was meant to be the one to do this for him. I’ve always wanted to help people and do something really meaningful, so to get the chance to do this for someone close to me made it so special. Crew’s diagnosis resonated with me even more because my youngest child is only 12 days older than Crew,” says mother-of-three Taylor Dearth of Huron, Ohio.

“As a mom herself, it was overwhelming to think she was willing to go through a major surgery to save my son’s life,” says Nicole.

After undergoing a thorough testing process, doctors determined Taylor was a match for Crew. Their transplant surgery date was set for June 30, 2025.

“Being with my girls the day of the surgery, the nerves hit way harder. I was hoping for and expecting the best, but I was nervous. At the same time, I was also ready to do it. I was ready to do this for Crew so they could get the cancer out of his body,” says Taylor, whose minimally invasive transplant procedure was performed by Choon Hyuck David Kwon, MD, PhD, the Director of Laparoscopic Liver Surgery at Cleveland Clinic.

“Crew was so calm and peaceful before the surgery. He went down on the bed all by himself. While it was a stressful time for us, the staff was wonderful and kept us updated throughout the surgery,” says Nicole. Crew’s transplant surgeons were Koji Hashimoto, MD, PhD, the Director of Liver Transplantation at Cleveland Clinic, and Gloriamaria Gonzalez Garcia, MD, a pediatric surgeon and transplant specialist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Involved in Crew’s care both before and after transplant as well is Mike Leonis, MD, PhD, the Medical Director of Pediatric Liver Transplantation at Cleveland Clinic Children's.

Both procedures were successful, and Taylor was back home within five days after surgery. Crew was home after 12 days in the hospital. However, Crew’s treatment wasn’t over just yet. To take care of any remaining cancer cells, he underwent three more rounds of chemotherapy.

In September 2025, Crew completed his treatment. A few days later, he got clear scans, meaning there were no signs of remaining cancer. Surrounded by his family and the caregivers who supported him along the way, Crew rang the Bravery Bell to celebrate.

“I honestly didn't know if we would ever see that day. We were feeling pure joy and happiness. The transplant was a success, and we were finally done with chemo,” says Nicole.

“The bell ringing was such a special day I will remember forever. I just kept thinking how out of reach this all felt when we first found out he had cancer. But for this day to come, and to see the smile on his face as he walked down the hall – it meant everything,” says Taylor.

Moving forward, Crew’s care team will continue to closely monitor his health after the transplant and watch for signs of cancer recurrence. Nicole says Crew has since regained his strength and now enjoys playing with his three siblings and two dogs.

“Crew is sweet, loving and happy – you honestly wouldn’t even know he's been through so much. He’s just your typical busy toddler trying to get into some trouble,” says Nicole.

Not only are Nicole and her husband, Chad, grateful to have 1-year-old Crew back at home – they’re also thankful for his care team, who treated him like family, and for Taylor, who volunteered to be his organ donor. The couple and Taylor hope sharing Crew’s story highlights the importance of organ donation.

“I never thought about being a living organ donor for someone until Crew’s diagnosis, but I am so happy that I got the chance to do so – it has filled me with such joy and gratitude. Organ donation gives recipients a second chance to create new memories with the people they love,” says Taylor.

“Being an organ donor is the most selfless, incredible thing anyone could do for someone, and a lot of people don’t realize the possibility of living organ donation. When I tell people my sister-in-law donated a portion of her liver, they're like, ‘Wow, you can do that?’ Her gift to us is the reason Crew’s thriving today,” says Nicole.