Just after his first birthday, doctors diagnosed Kaden Hollis with a rare liver disease.

Born seemingly healthy with big brown eyes and a head full of black hair, Kaden’s parents Cindie and Robert Hollis, of Kent, noticed at about 8 weeks old that their son’s eyes and skin were yellow. During a routine check-up, Kaden’s pediatrician knew something was wrong. He was immediately admitted to Seattle Children’s Hospital for the first of many stays.

His liver disease caused liver failure, which made it difficult for him to eat, gain weight or develop enough strength to even stand on his own. He was listed for a liver transplant at 18 months old, and received a liver from a deceased donor a month later in December 2006.

Flash forward to Sunday, Aug. 4, where Kaden, 19, shared his story at a Donation Celebration event at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, hosted by Bellevue-based LifeCenter Northwest, the organ procurement organization serving Washington.

While Kaden can’t recall that he once struggled to eat, move or stand, he is thankful for the second chance he received thanks to an organ donor and the choice of their selfless family.

“I am eternally grateful for the life this transplant has given me,” said Kaden, a 2023 Kentridge High School graduate who is preparing for his freshman year at Western Washington University in Bellingham. “I want to thank my donor’s family from the bottom of my heart. I will never forget the life lost, and the gift that was given to me.”

Cindie Hollis, inspired by her son’s gift, later made an impactful decision to donate one of her kidneys to a friend in need. This decision gave Cindie’s friend more than eight years of life where she was able to witness her daughter get married and spend three precious years with her grandson.

“Kaden’s transplant at 21 months old was a complete success,” said Cindie Hollis, who also spoke at the Donation Celebration. “His team of doctors were amazed at his recovery. The day after surgery, he was sitting up in the ICU eating cheese pizza and chocolate pudding.”

Cindie Hollis said she knew she would donate an organ because of Kaden.

“With our experience through transplant, I always knew that I wanted to give forward,” she said. “I could not give back to the family who said ‘yes’ to organ donation that saved Kaden’s life, but I could ‘give forward’ and donate to another family. I was blessed to be a perfect match for a friend, and I donated my left kidney in 2011, five years following Kaden’s transplant.”

Robert Hollis, the father of Kaden, also attended the event. He is deputy chief of the Lacey Police Department and previously worked for the Kent and Des Moines police departments.

The Donation Celebration centered around the life-saving legacies of organ, eye, and tissue donors, and was an opportunity for their surviving families to honor loved ones, celebrate their gifts, and connect with more than 400 others from the donation community that also included grateful transplant recipients.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, visit the LifeCenter Northwest website at lcnw.org.

Jenna Pringle, of LifeCenter Northwest, contributed to this article.

Kaden Hollis and his parents, Cindie and Robert Hollis, at a Donation Celebration event Aug. 4 in Bellevue. COURTESY PHOTO, LifeCenter Northwest

Kaden Hollis as a toddler when he fought a rare liver disease that made if difficult for him to eat, gain weight or stand on his own. COURTESY PHOTO, LifeCenter Northwest

Kaden Hollis with his parents, Robert and Cindie Hollis at his 2023 graduation from Kentridge High School. COURTESY PHOTO, LIfeCenter Northwest