In December, Raquel had a surgery called a Kasai to connect the bile drainage from the liver directly to the intestinal tract. The procedure is helpful in allowing the child to grow, sometimes for many years, but eventually the liver will backup causing liver damage. Whereas, Raquel has been able to grow some, she is still only in the tenth percentile for growth in her age group (90% of children her age are larger). Up to 66 percent of children who undergo the Kasai will eventually need a liver transplant.