Boy’s yellow skin sign of rare liver disease

By Ben Barry

A toddler who "turned yellow" after birth due to needing a liver transplant has been diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation.

Jamie Liley, 32, was 35 weeks pregnant when she gave birth to her son, Jameson, now two, on June 24, 2022.

When he was born Jameson weighed 4lbs and his skin was yellow.

Doctors told Jamie her son's bilirubin - a yellowish pigment - levels were high but she says she was assured it was nothing to worry about.

After two weeks at home Jameson's skin got more yellow and he started vomiting.

Jamie and her then partner, Devin, 33, took their son to Arthur m. Blank Hospital in Atlanta - where medics performed exploratory surgery.

Jameson was diagnosed with biliary atresia - where bile ducts are blocked or damaged - and put him on the transplant list.

On May 13, 2023, Jamie got the call that a liver was ready for transplant, and Jameson underwent an op on Mother's Day, 2023.

The transplant was successful, but two years later, Jamie was told by doctors that Jameson has a POLG gene mutation - which disrupts the function of DNA polymerase - after struggling to walk and talk.

Jamie said that doctors believe the liver transplant triggered the genetic mutation, and is going for tests to find out more.

Jamie, a stay-at-home mom, from Cartersville, Ga., said: "When we got the call to say Jameson had a liver [donor] I remember being very happy and excited.

"While they were prepping Jameson, a doctor mentioned how he would receive a whole liver transplant.

"I remember thinking how that meant it was from a child Jameson's age who had passed away.

"It was Mother's Day, I remember bawling my eyes out.

"I was so happy for Jameson, but I was devastated for the parents who had selflessly donated their child's liver.

"I've written a letter to the donor parents to express my gratitude as the liver saved my son's life - he would not be here without it."

After being born prematurely, Jameson spent a month in the ICU of Northside Hospital Cherokee, to gain strength before being allowed home.

Jamie said: "After two weeks of being at home, his skin started to go more yellow, and he would start vomiting.

"Whilst he was in the NICU they said that his bilirubin levels were elevated, but it wasn't too serious.

"I thought his yellowness would fade over time, but he started getting more yellow and throwing up."

Concerned, Jamie took Jameson to hospital in August 2022.

Doctors performed an exploratory surgery and found that his bile ducts were blocked - meaing bile couldn't go from the liver to the intestines.

Jameson was diagnosed with biliary atresia, and doctors told Jamie the only treatment option was a liver transplant.

Jamie said: "I knew something was wrong as they stopped the surgery to come speak to us.

"They gave me the news that he would need a transplant within the year, and I remember crying - I was devastated.

"At that point, I didn't know much about the condition; I just heard the word transplant, and I was very scared."

Jameson was put on the transplant waiting list, and Jamie said he got "pretty sick" and needed feeding through an IV tube.

On May 13th, Jamie received the call that a liver was ready to be donated, and she rushed to the Arthur M. Blank Hospital where the transplant took place on Mother's Day.

Jamie said: "We had a bag packed ready, they said that we could get the call anytime.

"The transplant was successful, and two years later, he is doing great.

"He did have a bit of a rocky healing process.

"Jameson had to be incubated, but we couldn't get him extubated, so he had to have a trachea for a year."

Jamie noticed that Jameson wasn't hitting his developmental markers, and in February 2025, he was diagnosed with global developmental delay and level 3 autism.

He then underwent genetic testing, and Jamie found out that Jameson has a POLG gene mutation that affects mitochondrial DNA replication in April 2025.

Jameson is due to see specialist doctors in Ohio in June for tests to find out the cause, and has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for travel expenses.

Jamie said: "It is extremely rare as he is the only one with his specific variant.

"This mutation results in mitochondrial disease and dysfunction.

"The brain and muscles are what are most affected because they require the most energy.

"It’s believed that the liver transplant was the trigger that set off his regression and the symptoms related to mitochondrial disease.

"That is a theory from doctors; that is why we are going to see specialists in Ohio to check if that is correct."