|
Richmond, Va: Three and a half months after welcoming their second child MacKenzie into the world, Wes & Danielle Hooker’s lives were turned upside down in an instant. While visiting Danielle’s parents, MacKenzie developed a bad cough and had to be rushed to the emergency room. While at the hospital her blood pressure and heart rate went through the roof.
At one point, MacKenzie became septic. Danielle, who works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at VCU Medical Center, knew how bad it was. Her daughter, who seemed perfectly healthy the day before, could die. After an ultrasound was performed on MacKenzie, the doctors found the root of her seemingly sudden health problems.
MacKenzie was born with a bladder defect. The bladder was extremely small, holding only 5ml. of fluid. The average bladder of a child Mackenzie’s age can hold nearly twenty times as much. Because of her small bladder, urine had been refluxing into her kidneys during the first three and a half months of her life causing irreversible damage to her kidneys.
“I was in complete shock when I found out about Mackenzie’s problems.” Danielle says. “I couldn’t believe that those problems had been masking themselves for 3 plus months.”
The Hooker family has been through several surgeries with MacKenzie, including the removal of one of her kidneys. Due to the damage caused in the first few months of her life, she will eventually need a kidney transplant.
Despite her condition and all of the required doctor’s visits, MacKenzie is now a happy, active 4-year-old. This energetic little girl may be small for her age, but is definitely not small in spirit.
The Hooker Family is this year’s Honored Family at the Kidney Walk in Richmond, taking place on Sunday, November 8 at the picnic area at Innsbrook. For more information contact Lynn Williams at 804-288-8342.
“I decided to get us involved with the NKF to help spread the word among our family and friends,” says Danielle. “I don’t think most people understand what your kidneys do and how important they are to your body. I think everyone should be involved because it could just as easily be them or someone they know that ends up on dialysis or needs a transplant.”
The National Kidney Foundation, a major voluntary nonprofit health organization, is dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by kidney disease and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.
###
Amy Capistran
Regional Project Manager
National Kidney Foundation
P: 804-288-8342
F: 804-282-7835
EMAIL:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
1 in 8 Virginians suffer from chronic kidney disease. Help us fight this silent killer. Register today for a Kidney Walk near you! www.kidneywalk.org
|
River Country News 
locations
Comments