2-Year-Old Boy with Rare Kidney Syndrome in Need of a Kidney Donor

One look at this 2-year-old boy, one will say, Diego Reyes is indeed a normal and ordinary kid who loves to play outside.

However, according to his mom, Brittany Reyes from Clarksville, every time Diego has a fever, she takes him to the hospital, fearing that "a kidney infection results from a condition also called "Denys-Drash" syndrome may occur.

Specifically, Denys-Drash syndrome is described as a kidney disease that starts within the first years of life. Due to these conditions, Diego was reportedly born with "high blood pressure" which results in kidney failure before turning five years old in most conditions.

Based on data from the National Institute of Health, at least 150 individuals are reportedly impacted by Denys-Drash syndrome.

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To Need a Donor Soon

According to his mom, Diego will soon be in need of a kidney donor. When he was born, Brittany said, his doctors ran numerous tests to identify what was wrong. They were uncertain for the whole year until they diagnosed him to have Denys-Drash.

With such a diagnosis, the health complications of Diego comprise reflex which results in urine to, at times, "flow back into the bladder."

To address his condition, the two-year-old is taking medicine every day to manage his blood pressure, as well as avoid both kidney and bladder infections.

Despite his high blood pressure, according to Diego's mom, he does not have any special diet. Like any other two-year-old boy, he eats the normal meal.

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Risk for Rare Kidney Cancer

Such conditions have put Diego at high risk for having a rare kidney cancer known as Wilm's tumor that mainly affects small kids. Children suffering from this syndrome, according to the NIH, have a 90-percent chance of having rare cancer.

Despite the high chance of having the Wilm's tumor, most kids who have it survive the illness. On the average, the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital said, the tumor is one pound upon diagnosis and develops in the abdomen.

Furthermore, despite the "large, firm lump" in the abdomen of a child, most kids do not show any indication of having cancer, and the tumor is not spreading to the body's other areas.

Kidney Function at 36 Percent

Brittany shared her son is receiving ultrasounds every three months. He also visits his kidney doctor at Vanderbilt's children's hospital monthly to have his status checked. To date, Diego's kidney function is reportedly at 36 percent as of this writing.

Every time they go, Diego's mom shared, his kidney function drops about one to two percent, and therefore, they are hoping "to find a kidney."

As of mid-August, Diego is reportedly not on the list of kidney transplant yet, as his doctors are still running some tests.

A Donor for Diego

According to reports, kidney donors need to have a compatible blood type with Diego whose blood is O positive. Therefore, a donor with any O type blood is eligible.

Meanwhile, when a kidney donor for the boy is found, his insurance is covering the whole transplant for both parties. More so, Diego is getting both of his kidneys removed. He is receiving one from a donor, too.

Brittany said it will be best for Diego to a live donor, instead of a dead one. This, she explained, would allow the people engaged to plan out the process and provide a more flawless transition.

With a deceased donor, Diego's family would need to move fast hoping that the donor would be a match. Indeed, according to Brittany, a live donor aged 55 or younger would help guarantee the kidney would last longer.

Eventually, too, the two-year-old boy's mom said, Diego, will need another transplant when he becomes an adult. And in connection to this, Brittany said, she is looking forward to that day she finds a donor for her son.

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