How about we begin today with something beautiful — wishing Noah Hallford a happy birthday?
Yes, he turned one yesterday, but something tells me he won’t mind us being a day late. After everything this little fighter has endured in his first year of life, he is simply happy to be here, happy to be held, and happy to be celebrated.
And he deserves every single birthday wish we can send.
Because Noah isn’t just turning one…
He is turning one after surviving a year most adults could not endure.
The Day Noah Was Born — A Joyful Beginning With a Quiet Warning
“Noah was born November 14th, 2024,” his mother, Shelby Hallford, shared from Dothan, Alabama.
His birth was joyful. Emotional. Beautiful.
But there was something no one could ignore:
“Noah’s eyes were yellow… and so was his skin,” Shelby said.
The doctors recognized it quickly — jaundice far more severe than what most newborns experience. Tests were ordered. Concerns grew. And soon the truth came back:
Biliary Atresia.
A rare and life-threatening condition in which the bile ducts outside and inside the liver are blocked or absent. Without bile drainage, the liver becomes damaged, scarred, and eventually fails.
Most babies diagnosed with Biliary Atresia will eventually need a liver transplant.
For Noah, that reality came fast.
A Fight That Began Before He Could Even Lift His Head
Doctors tried to save Noah’s liver by performing a procedure to connect the liver to his small intestine — something that, in many babies, buys time before a transplant is needed.
But for Noah, it didn’t take.
His liver continued to fail.
He developed complications affecting his esophagus.
Shelby and her husband Jessie watched their baby boy grow sicker, weaker, more fragile.
Nothing prepares a parent for the moment they hear:
“Your child needs a liver transplant.”
Nothing prepares you for the waiting list —
The endless tests,
The phone calls,
The long nights staring at your baby while praying for another day,
The guilt of hoping for a donor, knowing what that means for another family.
But Noah fought.
And his parents fought for him.
And then, five months ago, on June 19th, 2025
, everything changed.
A Gift From a Two-Year-Old Hero
On June 19th, the Hallfords received the call they prayed for — the call that brings fear, relief, heartbreak, and hope all at once:
“We have a liver for Noah.”
The donor was a 2-year-old child, gone far too soon.
A family somewhere was living their worst day so that Noah could live to see all of his tomorrows.
It is a gift beyond words — a gift rooted in unimaginable grief and unimaginable love.
And because of that little hero, Noah was given a second chance at life.
The transplant was successful.
Noah’s body accepted his new liver.
His color improved.
His strength returned.
His eyes brightened.
A new beginning was unfolding.
Today — Noah Is Thriving
Just five months after receiving his new liver, Noah is doing
wonderfully.
His energy is back.
His smile is full.
His spirit is bright.
And he is so close to taking his first steps.
A year ago, his parents did not know if Noah would ever walk.
Today, they cheer every wobbly attempt he makes as he holds onto furniture, determined to see the world on his own two feet.
His big sister Allie cheers for him too.
The Hallford home — once filled with fear — is now filled with laughter, hope, and the sound of new beginnings.
Noah’s future is not guaranteed, but today… today he is thriving.
And that is everything.
A Birthday Worth Celebrating Across the World
This first birthday is not just a milestone.
It is a victory.
It is a testament.
It is a miracle wrapped in the tiny body of a little boy who refused to give up.
So, how about we all take a moment today to send our love to Noah?
To whisper a prayer for long life, steady health, and many more birthdays.
To honor the family who fought alongside him.
And to honor the precious donor whose gift made this first birthday possible.
A Message to the Hallford Family
To Noah —
Happy birthday, sweet boy.
Your courage inspires more people than you’ll ever know.
To Mom and Dad —
Shelby and Jessie, your strength carried your son through the darkest days. You are everything a parent should be.
To Allie —
You are the big sister every little brother deserves.
And to the donor family —
Your child lives on through Noah’s heartbeat, Noah’s breath, and Noah’s future. Thank you for your unimaginable gift.
🧡 Please join me in wishing Noah Hallford the happiest of first birthdays.
May God bless him with years and years of growing, laughing, walking, running, and shining.
May he celebrate every November 14th surrounded by love.
May healing continue to cover him.
Here’s to many more birthdays, Noah.
The world is cheering for you.
Photos courtesy of Shelby Hallford and Ivy & Lace Photography
