Alex Rebitch (center) is shown with his parents, Tony and Kara Rebitch, at their Hull home recently. Alex, 19, valedictorian of MCHS Class of 2006, is a full-time sophomore student at UGA, despite suffering from a rare autoimmune disease that will require him to have a liver transplant.
Photo by Margie Richards
‘Punching back’
MCHS 2006 valedictorian pursues dreams despite liver disease
BY MARGIE RICHARDS
When valedictorian Alex Rebitch took the podium at Madison County’s graduation ceremonies last year, few besides his family knew that he had already faced more challenges than many of his classmates may know in a lifetime.
“It is during troubling times that we learn the most about ourselves and grow more as individuals,” Alex told his classmates then. “The trials are what bring out our strengths and test our being.”
And Alex certainly already knew something then about facing trials and challenges – and not just in academics.
Alex was diagnosed five years ago with a rare autoimmune liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).
But looking at the bright, clear-eyed young man sitting on the couch at his parents’ home recently, one would hardly think of the word “sick.”
But that’s just what 19-year-old Alex is – in fact he is gravely ill and without a liver transplant doctors say he will not be able to survive.
As a freshman at Madison County High School the autumn he became sick. Doctors initially thought his symptoms and an enlarged spleen pointed to mononucleosis. At one time, he was treated for mono, Roto virus and salmonella all at once, his mother, Kara Rebitch, recalls.
He recovered enough to return to school, but in mid-October he came home one day vomiting, with his feet swollen and looking as if he’d been beaten “black and blue,” his mom said. Doctors this time determined that his entire GI tract was inflamed and sent him by ambulance to specialists in Atlanta.
It was a terrifying time for both he and his family.
“We saw a dozen doctors over the next two weeks,” Mrs. Rebitch remembers, none of who were able to provide them with any clear answers. Alex was on an IV and a nasogastric (NG) tube was placed down his throat to help provide nutrients.
Specialists at Scottish Rite thought he might have lupus, though they could not be sure. His symptoms and his enlarged spleen were still somewhat of a mystery. He was well enough to return to school after the Thanksgiving holidays, but it wasn’t until a few months later that a liver biopsy and an examination of the bile ducts by specialists at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta provided a definitive diagnosis of PSC.
Since that time, Alex has also developed ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that afflicts about 50 percent of PSC sufferers.
Doctors have since told the family that Alex must have a liver transplant and a year and a half ago he was placed on the liver transplant list at Egleston Children’s Hospital.
But despite all this, Alex hasn’t let his illness, or its prognosis alter his academic success nor his optimistic attitude about all life has to offer. In fact, despite his absences and hospitalizations, few knew the severity of his illness while he was in high school where he rose to the top of his class academically.
Now a sophomore at the University of Georgia majoring in international affairs, Alex recently moved from his parents’ home in Hull into an apartment in Athens with some of his friends.
His mom admits she worries about him – but also admits that at 19 years old he must take the reins of taking care of his health – including taking daily doses of medication.
“I can’t stop living,” Alex says, shrugging. “There’s nothing I can do to make it go away, so there’s no point in moping about it.”
But what he can do is make plans for his future, once the transplant is behind him. One of the first things he wants to do is go overseas to study, something he can’t do now while he’s tethered close to home in the event a donor liver becomes available.
Though donor transplants have been successful with a portion of a liver from a living donor, Mrs. Rebitch says its been determined that this would not be the best option for Alex.
So, in the meantime, they wait and from time to time Alex receives blood platelet transfusions as part of his therapy. His platelet count can get so low that it threatens the ability of his blood to clot.
The community has come together recently to help Alex and his family – holding a blood drive at Hull Baptist Church in July, as well as at the Athens donor center.
MAKE-A-WISH
Two years ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent Alex, his mom and dad, and his older siblings, Jason and Amanda, to Alaska – a place Alex has always wanted to visit. The family flew into Anchorage, went whale watching in Seward and behind the scenes at the sea life center there.
“We had a great time,” Alex said, his eyes lighting up at the memory.
“This (illness) has strengthened our family – we have a very strong faith,” Mrs. Rebitch said, adding that the family has talked about everything together – including death.
“We do have our bad days,” Mrs. Rebitch added. “It’s been very consuming and Tony and I have cried together when we’re alone, apart from Alex.”
But both parents agree that it’s just hard to be sad or morose, particularly when faced with the sunny optimism of their son.
“If he can handle it, we certainly have to,” Mrs. Rebitch said.
And it’s clear that Alex handles it very well. The worst thing, for his part, is the overall fatigue as well as the restrictions on his physical activity because of his enlarged spleen – an injury could be disastrous. Due to this, he hasn’t been able participate in physical education or sports.
“I’m just tired of being tired,” he said.
For his parents it’s simply the waiting that’s the hardest thing.
Alex will remain on the transplant list at Egleston until he’s 21. If no transplant is received by then, he’ll be placed on the adult transplant list at Emory.
He goes to Egleston for periodic evaluations and on his last visit, complications were discovered with blood flow in his abdomen. As a result of this, his doctors have sent an appeal letter to the donor review board to move him up on the donor list.
“If he gets the appeal, he could have a liver by October or November,” his mom said.
Mr. Rebitch said they are hopeful Alex can undergo the transplant while he is still relatively active and healthy.
“We don’t want him to get any sicker,” he said.
For Alex’s part, he’s just ready to get on with it.
