HEISLERVILLE, New Jersey (WPVI) — Organ transplants truly give someone a second chance at life.
A young Florida woman is certainly making the most of her gift from a South Jersey family.
New Jersey’s East Point Lighthouse was a favorite spot for Rob Kerr’s son Jared and his brother.
Jared seemed like a perfect baby when he was born.
“When he was 2 and a half, we noticed he was having difficulties progressing with language and steps,” Rob recalls.
“He had a rare brain disease called metachromatic leukodystrophy. It’s a terminal disease that attacks the white (brain) matter and the peripheral nerves,” he explains.
Despite an experimental stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood, the terminal disease robbed Jared of walking, talking, even eating by mouth.
“But he always smiled,” Rob says wistfully.
“You could get him to do this belly laugh just by making noise and things. And he loved interaction. He when anyone would interact with him, he really took …