SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

Will Davidson

“There is not enough fluid around your baby,” the physician explained to Adam and Lindy Davidson as they watched the black and white screen. “Your son’s bladder is not working properly. The fluid is collecting, but not exiting.”
The young couple never expected to hear these words when they went for their first ultrasound. “The news was devastating. We were crushed,” Adam remembers. “Our lives drastically began to change.”

After months of bed rest and amnioinfusions (addition of fluid into the amniotic sac), Will was born two months early and transferred to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Upon examining Will, pediatric nephrologist Jorge Ramirez, MD, explained that Will’s kidneys were not functioning. Dr. Ramirez explained the immediate need for kidney dialysis and the long-term need for a kidney transplant.

Within a week, Will underwent surgery to prepare for peritoneal dialysis. He then began the treatments to remove waste and extra water from his system, balance the levels of vital nutrients and manage his blood pressure. Daily, Will underwent dialysis sometimes even around the clock. However, Will’s kidney disease was affecting how he developed. Even by the age of two, he was small for his age. He could roll over, but after accomplishing this feat, he was too tired to try crawling or standing. “I never realized how much kidneys do for you,” Lindy shares.

“We felt like we were joining a club no one expects to be in,” Adam shares. “Initially, we mourned the loss of our dreams and plans for our life. But now we realize that the horror of looking in is greater than living it out.”
After two and a half years of dialysis, Will was able to undergo a kidney transplant, the donor—his grandmother. At first, the results were measured in urine output, but then Will began standing, his vocabulary increased, and he began eating food for the first time. The kidney transplant had worked a miracle in his life.

“Will has a unique blend of medical issues, so it takes a special team of doctors to grasp him. Dr. Ramirez is one of the only glass-is-half-full doctors we have ever met,” Adam describes. “He is aggressively optimistic. During the dark days, we really needed that.”

Anytime Will gets even a cold, he requires the specialized care of Arnold Palmer Hospital. “We bring him straight here. Everyone knows him. Though the room may change, the people who care for Will remain the same. We want it to be familiar. Not having to explain his medical history every time is comforting. Everyone knows Will.”

“We have a high calling. We are the parents of a kid with special needs,” Lindy shares. “God chose us to be his parents.” “As parents we are Will’s primary caregivers,” they share. “Our physicians have empowered us saying, ‘You are the expert on your child.’ They patiently answer our questions and involve us in decisions.”
“I remember praying for Will before he was born,” Lindy shares. “’God, if you let Will live, I’ll never stop talking about it.’ I haven’t.”

A MOTHER'S LOVE

Latricia Stone held a birthday party celebrating her daughter Autumn’s first birthday in 2004, but despite this exciting event, Autumn could not escape a nagging cough that continued to worsen. Latricia saw that her daughter was having problems even catching her breath when she coughed. After consulting with her physician, Latricia took Autumn to the Emergency Department at Orlando Regional Medical Center where diagnostic X-rays were performed. Latricia learned that Autumn was suffering from bilateral pneumonia, an infection that caused her lungs to nearly fill with mucus.

Autumn was transferred to the Pediatrics Special Care Unit at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Latricia never left her daughter’s bedside. Pediatrician John Tilelli, MD ordered a blood test. The results were shocking. Autumn’s platelet count as well as her hemoglobin count was low. Additional tests confirmed that one of Autumn’s kidneys had failed. “I wasn’t expecting this kind of result. I just wanted my baby to get better,” Latricia recalls.

Dr. Tilelli transferred Autumn to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she was immediately put on a ventilator to help her breathe. “Dr. Tilelli was wonderful. He was so focused and determined to help my child,” Latricia says.

That evening, Dr. Tilelli spoke with Latricia and her husband about Autumn’s condition. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he began, “we thought your baby just had pneumonia, but she has something called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).” Latricia and her husband learned that HUS is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children.

Because of Autumn’s deteriorating condition, Jorge Ramirez, MD, a pediatric nephrologist was consulted. “Autumn will need dialysis and eventually a kidney transplant,” he explained. Latricia and her husband each learned how to perform kidney dialysis at home.

In the meantime, Autumn grew stronger and her condition improved while she waited to receive a new kidney. Her first options were with her family. “My husband was too tall and my son was too young, I was the most viable candidate,” Latricia explains. She underwent testing to find that she was a perfect match for her daughter. In July of 2006, Latricia donated her kidney and Autumn was the lucky recipient.

While Autumn still returns to Arnold Palmer Hospital to receive anti-rejection medicine and regular checkups, she continues to improve – with just a little help from her Mom.