"He needs a chance:" 4-month-old at Children's Hospital in need of liver transplant

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A baby boy is fighting for his life at Children's Hospital.

Four-month-old Marcus Albers is in desperate need of a liver transplant.

"It's pretty critical," said Whitney Mclean, the boy's mother.

"They say weeks, and that was last week," said Anthony Albers, his father.

A week and a half ago, Marcus was doing fine, playing with his two-year-old brother, but things quickly took a turn, and now he's in liver failure. He's in need of a partial liver from a living donor.

"We had a normal functioning 4-month-old to a kid now vented in the ICU fighting for his life for a liver," said Mclean.

There's some criteria needed for the right donor.

This person needs to be:

• Type O blood
• Under 150 lbs
• Under age 50

Both Marcus' parents weren't able to donate so their friends put a post on Facebook asking for donors.

With a partial donation, your liver should fully grow back in 6 months and all medical costs are free for donors.

Many people have lined up to be screened as a donor, but they may not be a match for Marcus.

For more information on how to donate, please fill out the Live Liver Donation Form online at: https://www.froedtert.com/transplant/liver-transplant/live-donor/how-to-donate

Marcus was born with a rare liver disease, but everything seemed normal until last week. Now he won't leave the hospital until he receives a new liver. Marcus' mom says Immunodeficiency 47 only has about a dozen documented cases.

His mom and dad know the donation would mean more than a liver, it also means a future for Marcus. Doctors expect he'll live a full life after receiving a transplant.

"He just an amazing kid," said Albers. "He's so little. He needs a chance, want to see what his first words are going to be."

While they wait for a donor, Marcus and the willingness of others to help is keeping hope alive for the family.

"He's a fighter," said Mclean.

There are currently 406 kids are on the list for this type of transplant nationally according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. If someone isn't a match for Marcus, they may be a match to help another child.

There's also a GoFundMe page set up for the family.