Two-Year-Old Awaits Kidney Transplant, Family Hopes for Christmas Operation

The parents of a two-year-old boy, who is awaiting a kidney transplant from his father, are expressing their hope that the surgery can take place before Christmas. Ari, residing in Sutton near Ely, Cambridgeshire, was born with posterior urethral valves, a condition that led to kidney failure. His life-saving dialysis commenced at one week old, and his parents, Shona and Reece, have indicated that they have spent the majority of his life in hospital settings. They aim to elevate public awareness for Kidney Research UK, a charity based in Peterborough, and to broaden Ari’s experiences “to more than just home, car, and dialysis on repeat”. Shona described Ari’s diagnosis as akin to being “thrown into this whirlwind of information”. She stated, “We’re fighting with him and we’re fighting for him.” She further characterized him as “an absolute angel. He is so happy, so chilled and laid back and everyone always says how placid he is. He takes everything on the chin. “A little trooper… an absolute hero.”” Reece, who has been identified as a compatible donor, expressed his wish that a transplant scheduled for December would enable Ari to experience his first Christmas outside of a hospital. He remarked, “Ari’s life has been very limited so far.” Reece added, “He would be at nursery now if he was healthy but, instead, is falling behind younger children who are already walking and talking.” He also shared, “We concentrated on all the positives that were happening and took every little win day by day. You just have to ride the waves and do it for them.” It is anticipated that Ari will require multiple transplants throughout his lifetime. Shona commented, “We hope it will buy him enough time for research to advance and reduce the long-term impact of kidney disease on his life.” Lucy Sreeves, executive director of Kidney Research UK, stated, “Ari’s early years have been severely affected by kidney disease, but advances in research can offer a better future for him and other patients.” Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.