Teen leads family in Liver Life Walk

Caley Cargile would probably seem like an average girl to anyone who does not know her. However, she’s one of the 30 million Americans affected by over 100 types of liver disease and, one of the American Liver Foundation’s Liver Life Walk champions.

At the young age of four, Cargile had her first liver transplant after her parents found out that her liver was deteriorating rapidly causing jaundice and chronic fatigue, a rare liver disease. Cargile had another surgery later that year and spent 50 days in the hospital recovering. A liver transplant is an operation in which the patient’s diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy one.

When asked about her surgery Cargile says “I don’t remember anything.”

Although Cargile leads a normal life now she says, “It just makes me feel different from everyone else.”

Cargile has routine check-ups and blood work and daily anti-rejection medicine, but she says that the only physical effect that remains is a huge scar on her stomach.

One of the ten major death causes in the United States, liver disease affects one in every ten Americans, and the number of liver transplants has been increasing steadily for the past fifteen years. Before the American Liver Foundation was formed in 1976, there was no national voluntary health agency for liver diseases.

The Liver Life Walk is the American Liver Foundation’s annual fundraiser. Many people come out to support and donate to the ALF, a nationwide organization that seeks to facilitate, advocate, and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment or cure of liver disease. Walkers should also enjoy a good time since in addition to the walk itself, local businesses will be donating food, and live music will entertain the participants.

Cargile will be leading her family and friends in the walk on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Cancer Survivors Park along with other liver transplant survivors all over the Mid South. The goal is to raise $50,000 for liver disease research.

Cargile just recently turned 16 on Aug. 16 and is thankful for the treatments that saved her life as a child.