We will be continuing the giveaways for the Van Staal Reel and the Fly Fishing Combo until Friday 12/19 with drawings occurring on 12/21 at 5 pm live on Instagram @gwcustomsfishingrods

All proceeds will go to Mia and her family to help cover her ongoing care and medical expenses. You can read more about her story below!

The Garlington’s Version: Living with Biliary Atresia 

Our Story:
We’re Kirsten and Ben, proud parents of our adventurous three-year-old son, Jackson, and our
tiny-but-mighty 10-month-old daughter, Mia. Our little family lives locally here on the South
Coast, where we were both born and raised—and we feel incredibly blessed to now be raising
our two little humans here as well.
We wanted to share a bit about our story and why we’re here. Our daughter, Mia, was
diagnosed with a rare and lifelong liver disease called Biliary Atresia. She is currently receiving
ongoing treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she continues to amaze everyone with
her strength and resilience.
Because of the rarity of this disease, there is currently no definitive cure. For most children with
Biliary Atresia, a liver transplant eventually becomes necessary—but the most difficult part is
that no one can predict when. It could be months, a few years, or many years down the road.
It’s an emotional and uncertain journey, one that often feels like the longest game of “wait and
see.” At just five weeks old, Mia was diagnosed with a rare and serious liver disease called Biliary
Atresia — a condition where the bile ducts are blocked or underdeveloped, preventing bile from
draining from the liver. Without timely surgical intervention, this disease can be life-threatening
— in fact, it is if left untreated.
After a routine one-month checkup, Mia’s pediatrician noticed several warning signs — pale
stools, yellowing skin, and a slightly swollen abdomen. He immediately recognized the potential
for a liver-related condition and sent us to Boston Children’s Hospital that same night. Within
days, Mia underwent a major, life-saving surgery known as the Kasai procedure, which created
a new pathway for her liver to drain bile.
While the surgery saved Mia’s life, it was just the beginning of an ongoing medical journey.
Since her diagnosis, Mia has experienced multiple hospitalizations, severe vaccine reactions,
and frequent emergency visits. For most babies, a fever means Tylenol and rest — for Mia, it
means immediate hospitalization and days of testing to rule out infection in her liver.
Currently, Mia is in what doctors call a “holding pattern.” Her liver numbers, which had been
improving, have begun to rise again without a clear explanation and her Jaundice skin and
yellowing eyes are back. Mia’s current plan is to continue to undergo frequent lab work and
imaging to monitor her liver function and determine whether a liver transplant may be needed
sooner than expected.
This journey has reshaped us as a family. It’s taught us what strength really looks like — a 10-
month-old baby smiling through IVs, blood draws, and endless tests. It’s shown us the power of
community — friends, family, nurses, and even strangers — who continue to pray, cook meals,
and show up when we’re too tired to stand.
Lately, as her labs have shifted and the crippling fear creeps in again, those moments of
kindness have meant more than ever.
We are forever grateful to our village for standing beside us through every step of Mia’s journey.