Catawba mother donates her kidney daughter diagnosed with rare disease
Original story published 2024-09-09 19:47:31
STORY SUMMARY
In Charlotte, two-year-old Kenlin Brunell is enjoying life once again after her mother, Katie O’Neal, donated a kidney to save her daughter’s life. Diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome shortly after birth, Kenlin faced severe health challenges and underwent 11 months of dialysis. Despite initial difficulties finding a donor, Katie discovered she was a match and the life-saving transplant surgery was successfully performed on May 1. Kenlin is now thriving, though she will eventually need another transplant. Her mother and doctors at Levine children’s Hospital are urging more people to become organ donors, highlighting the ongoing critical need for kidney donations.
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Kenlin Brunell, a two-year-old from Charlotte, has experienced a significant turnaround after her mother, Katie O’Neal, donated a kidney to save her life. Kenlin was diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome shortly after birth, a rare condition that leads to high levels of protein in urine, swelling, and low protein levels in the blood, causing her to be highly susceptible to infections. Her initial year involved extensive medical care, including dialysis and multiple infusions weekly.
Kenlin’s situation suddenly improved when her mother turned out to be a compatible donor. On May 1st, Kenlin received her mother’s kidney and has since been thriving. Despite the remarkable progress, Kenlin’s medical journey is far from over. According to O’Neal, the transplanted kidney has a lifespan that could range from 15 to 20 years, necessitating continued monitoring and possibly future transplants. Kenlin’s condition now requires weekly lab visits to Levine children’s Hospital.
The family, along with medical professionals, is urging more people to consider organ donation. Despite Kenlin’s progress, many children and adults remain on transplant waiting lists at Levine children’s Hospital and other medical facilities. The emphasis on living kidney donations highlights that healthy individuals can safely donate one of their kidneys, significantly improving or even saving another person’s life. This call to action aims to reduce the waiting time and improve outcomes for those still in need of transplants.
