A Kingsburg mother was told when she was less than four months pregnant that her son might not make it. Now, that little boy is two-and-a-half years old, and getting a new chance at life.
A stranger is donating her kidney — something that could give Kaleb Perry a brighter future.
Kaleb has kidney disease and Prune Belly Syndrome. He’s been receiving care at Stanford Children’s Health since he was still in the womb.
Stanford explains that Prune Belly Syndrome is classified by the absence or severe weakness of abdominal muscles; an unusually enlarged bladder; and problems in the upper urinary tract, which includes the bladder and kidneys.
With two young boys in the house, Mandy Perry would have her hands full no matter what.
But her son Kaleb requires a little extra attention.
“He’s so full of energy and is just like a normal kid. It’s just a couple things that are normal to us now, but those things we add to our day,” said Perry.
Perry was less than four months pregnant when doctors told her that her son might not make it.
“In the ultrasound, there would be this tiny little baby with this baseball-sized bladder,” said Perry.
It took five in-utero procedures to give him a chance.
But now, he’s still working hard to stay healthy.
“Kaleb’s got a feeding tube, and we’re always hooking him up to get all his meds and his fluids, because he needs a really high amount of fluids — he gets over 2 liters of fluids a day,” said Perry.
In a household where they have to wash their hands so frequently, Kaleb thinks it must be a game.
“He takes over 15 medications a day. Most of them are kidney-related,” said Perry.
Then came an incredible turn of events: a Fresno woman had been following Kaleb’s journey on Facebook and offered to donate her kidney.
“I right away started crying as I read that message because I was just like, ‘Is this really going to be happening?’ His labs were just getting worse and worse and his kidney was just barely holding on there,” said Perry.
Perry and her husband weren’t able to donate their own kidneys, so this generous stranger became their only option.
“A new kidney is going to be life-changing for him,” said Perry. “Thank you is not enough. That they would give Kaleb a new chance at life is just incredible — to think that someone would do that for a stranger.”
But the family hasn’t reached the top of the hill just yet. They’ll have to spend two to three months in Stanford while Kaleb recovers.
Spirit Horse Connections, where Kaleb receives horse therapy, is hosting a carnival to raise money for the Perry family.
“We’re going to be living away from home and missing work. And so this carnival is going to be like a fair, so you don’t have to pay to get in, but you buy tickets like you would at a fair for rides or food, and that money will go towards Kaleb’s medical expenses and stay at Stanford,” said Perry.
There will be barbecue, a petting zoo, horse rides, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, and plenty of games.
Perry asks that if you are sick, please do NOT attend the carnival. A regular cold for Kaleb can be much harder on him than it would be for a typical child, and getting sick could affect his ability to receive the kidney transplant.
Source: kmph.com
