04 Jul It’s My Home; it’s Her Home

At four months old, Jazmin was diagnosed with a rare liver disease in her home country of Jamaica. When her parents Jessica and Javion realized that the proper care for Jazmin wasn’t available at home, they began to search for help in other countries.

Time was of the essence for the Dunn family, because Jazmin needed a liver transplant and was unable to receive any treatment at home. Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware was one of the first hospitals to respond to Jessica and Javion’s research inquiries. Soon, they found out that Jessica was a match for her daughter and was eligible to donate part of her liver to save her daughter’s life. The family quickly flew to the United States and the surgery was a success for both mom and baby.

Throughout their recovery, the family was able to find a second home at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware.
While Jazmin recovered as an inpatient at the hospital, her parents became anxious because only one parent was allowed to stay at bedside for two months while she was monitored closely by doctors. However, they soon felt at ease knowing they could both get a good night’s rest and stay close to Jaz at the Ronald McDonald House, just across the street.

Javion went home to Jamaica to care for the couple’s older six-year old daughter, but Jessica and Jazmin have been able to make the Ronald McDonald House their “home-away-from-home” for several months.

Jessica says she has never been alone this far from home, but that the Ronald McDonald House makes her feel like she is not alone. Some of her favorite memories at the House are when Jazmin has reached milestones, like clapping, crawling, AND walking! Jessica smiled when she told us: “it’s my home, it’s her home.”

The Dunn family plans moving forward include keeping Jazmin healthy, Jessica going back to school and work, and the whole family re-uniting (soon! They expect to go home this month) at home in Jamaica.