FAIRFIELD, N.J. — The American Liver Foundation (ALF) has released an animated video adaptation of its children’s book, “Bili the Brave,” featuring narration by CNN political commentator and attorney Bakari Sellers and his seven-year-ancient daughter, Sadie Sellers, a liver transplant recipient and biliary atresia (BA) patient.
The video brings to life the story of Bili, a lion created to support children and families affected by BA, a rare and life-threatening liver disease that primarily affects infants. The disease causes inflammation and blockage of the bile ducts, leading to bile buildup and liver damage. Symptoms typically appear within the first two to eight weeks of life and include jaundice, pale stools, and dark urine.
“I was so honored to join Sadie in bringing her favorite children’s book to life,” said Sellers in a statement released by ALF. “It’s difficult to watch your newborn infant struggling with a health condition that requires surgery and a liver transplant all before the age of one. There were a lot of sleepless nights for my wife Ellen and I as Sadie recovered from the procedures and surgeries. Learning more about the disease, utilizing the resources from ALF, and receiving the special plush Bili the Brave lion is the type of support families require during a difficult health journey. Sharing this special project with Sadie and helping bring this book to life was a wonderful experience we will both treasure forever.”
ALF launched the “Bili the Brave” book in 2024 to provide support and resources to children and families navigating BA. The accompanying toolkit, distributed through collaborating children’s hospitals, includes a plush lion with an embroidered scar and arm bandage, a medical bracelet, the children’s book, and a nylon string bag. When squeezed, Bili’s tummy plays recordings of children affected by BA, offering a sense of community and shared experience.
Peter Cullen, a former Disney Channel executive and ALF board member, emphasized the importance of making complex medical information accessible to young patients. “Bili the Brave transforms complex medical experiences into an accessible, hopeful story,” he said. “This animation is more than simple entertainment – it’s a tool for healing, education, and emotional support.”
The animated video was created with pro bono support from Chuck Snyder, Creative Director of Fox Entertainment, according to Lorraine Stiehl, CEO of ALF. Currently, 26 children’s hospitals across the country are participating in the program and distributing the Bili the Brave toolkits to newly diagnosed patients.
ALF offers additional resources for families, including a parent’s journal, a Pediatric Information Center accessible for parents, teens, and children, a support group on Facebook, and a webinar series focused on biliary atresia. The Bili the Brave Toolkit is available free of charge to collaborating children’s hospitals. Families whose children are not receiving care at a participating hospital can request more information by contacting Bili@liverfoundation.org.
For more information about ALF and liver disease, visit www.liverfoundation.org or call 1.800.GO.LIVER (800.465.4837). The animated video can be viewed at Bili the Brave – American Liver Foundation.
