New Jersey toddler set to come home after receiving 4 organs

ByAshley Johnson WPVI logo
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
New Jersey toddler set to come home after receiving 4 organs
A New Jersey girl who received four organ transplants will soon be released from the hospital.

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey (WPVI) -- A New Jersey girl who received four organ transplants will soon be released from the hospital.

Royalty Jackson lives up to every bit of her name. At just two years old she's been quite a fighter.

"This baby is a fighter since day one, she's been nothing than a fighter. She's been through more stuff in her two years of life than I've been in my entire life," said her grandma, Quiana Jackson.

Royalty was diagnosed with Microvillus inclusion disease, which means her body wasn't absorbing nutrients. It took more than a year but she's now received a new bowel, liver, large intestine and pancreas.

"Her transplant was in the District of Columbia, so we've been to D.C. to New Jersey, back and forth," Jackson said.

After spending her entire life in the hospital, and even amid a pandemic, Royalty was supposed to come home Tuesday. Then a setback: sick nurses.

"Now we have nurses that are either out sick from COVID-19 themselves," Jackson said.

That's a problem for a little girl who needs 24-hour home care. This little fighter even had her own scare with COVID-19.

"One of the nurses at the hospital where she was at tested positive, so Royalty was put on isolation. They had to test her for COVID-19, thank God it was negative," Jackson said.

During these uncertain times, Royalty's family shared a letter they wrote to her donor family.

They thanked them for the gift of life and say it's because of them their prayers were finally answered.

Royalty is now expected to come home to Trenton from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick next week.

MORE COVID-19 COVERAGE

Pennsylvania students expected to return to school in fall, ed chief says

Voices grow louder in Bucks County asking Gov. Wolf to ease COVID-19 restrictions

Action News Troubleshooters: Know your employee rights before heading back to work

Gov. Murphy: New Jersey expected to have dates for start of reopening process soon

Man arrested for assaulting employee who asked him to wear mask, police say

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Full guide: COVID-19 help, information and resources

Keeping Reusable Shopping Bags Sanitized and Germ-Free during COVID-19 Outbreak

How to get groceries, supplies, takeout, online workouts and home projects while quarantining

Things for everyone to do to pass the time at home

Great homeschooling and educational resources for parents and students

Free 6abc printable activities for kids to do at home

Work from home: Here are some companies hiring remote workers

CONNECT WITH US

Share your coronavirus story with Action News

Complete coronavirus coverage from Action News

Nominate a 6abc Hometown Hero