Jayde VanZalen, 21, for whom Hopkins High School students put together a fund-raiser in February, died Easter Sunday, March 27.
VanZalen, a 2013 Hopkins High School graduate, had been battling a serious liver disease since she was 12 years old. The Student Council, National Honor Society and friends and family had a fund-raiser for her Feb. 26 at the Vikings’ basketball game against Wyoming Godwin Heights.
She was first diagnosed at age 12 with a rare form of liver disease as well as Crohn’s disease, a condition that inflames the digestive tract and intestines. The disease caused chronic lifelong complications.
Jayde spent five and a half years on the liver transplant list, waiting for a proper organ donor to become available. She received a new liver in the summer of 2014, but within 15 months after the procedure, she underwent nine acute liver injections, until a recent biopsy revealed that Jayde’s body had chronically rejected her new liver and she needed another liver transplant.
Because she turned 21, she was transferred from pediatrics to the adult transplant list, extending the probable wait time to receive a new donor.
There were other requirements in order to be considered for an organ transplant, some of which included a permanent place of residence. Jayde’s mother, Shannon, was her sole supporter growing up, but due to constant trips to the U
niversity of Michigan for consultations and other complications, Jayde’s mother was unable to maintain a full-time job.
As a result, the family members lost their home and were unable to meet all the necessities needed to be on the transplant list.
Jayde is survived by her parents, Larry VanZalen and Shannon VanZalen; brother Joshua VanZalen and sisters Jordyn VanZalen and Jensyn VanZalen.
A celebration of life was held in her honor.