Today is World Kidney Day. This will probably pass many of you by, but for me, it has quite literally made me stop in my tracks and reflect since reading
this on notes from home.
My beautiful Beansey only has one kidney. At my twenty week scan we were told that "the right kidney is not quite right" and offered a termination. For me, to write that, has made me wince and cry and feel rather angry. There was no way on earth that was ever going to be an option and thank goodness we didn't go down that route, of aborting our "not perfect" child because he is the most perfect child you could wish for and more.
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| credit: notes from home |
So, at 20 weeks old in my womb, he was diagnosed with
PUV (Posterior Urethral Values) which in laymans terms is basically a flap of skin that grows across the urethra and obstructs the flow of urine, this resulted in his right kidney not growing properly and his left compensating which means he has a "super kidney".
His birth was a three day labour ending in an emergency C section at just past midnight. I gave him a quick cuddle and he was whisked of to the neo-natal intensive care unit whilst I was left in recovery hallucinating and seeing death. I eventually got to a ward and had to spend the night, on my own whilst six over women around me tended to their babies. I pathetically showed every midwife that came in his Polaroid. They didn't care. HAW was with Beansey most of the night and I was alone, sobbing.
The next morning, I was wheeled down to meet him and fell in love instantly. Here was my big bruiser of a boy, all 10lbs 1oz him and the greedy guzzler latched on like there was no tomorrow. I cried and cried and cried.
He had to have an operation at four days old to remove the valve and finally we were allowed to take him home at two weeks. I had my baby home.
He is going to be nine this year and has regular, yearly check ups. At four years of age, he had the right kidney removed as it was non functioning. This was a truly awful time but my superstar came around from the op and was doing headstands on his bed within the hour. His consultant was amazed at how quickly he recovered and still tells his students today about "Super Beansey" .
His "super kidney" is doing the job of two, so whilst he may not be symmetrical or "perfect", he is living life to the full playing first team football and rugby at county level already. He is loving, clever, handsome and caring. He is truly amazing and I am so, so proud to call him my son.
I joke about being a control freak but what I hate is the "not knowing". I'm not even going to go to the "dark place" I go to every once in a while, but imagine not knowing what the future holds for your child and you will understand that I am sitting her quite literally sobbing on my keyboard as a write this.
Nobody can say what the future holds for him, as a teenager he may (or may not) have growth issues, he may (or may not) need dialysis or transplant. If this is the case, will he spend his life in and out of hospitals. If so, I think will he ever marry? Will he have children? A regular job? In my darkest moments, I think will I outlive him? Or, will he grow up to be fit and healthy with a long and fulfilled life?
The objective of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
Did you know:
1) Kidneys are roughly the size of fists and control the salt and water in your body so that your blood pressure remains the same
2) Their main job is to remove toxins and excess water from our blood
3)They also help to control blood pressure, produce red blood cells and keep our bones healthy
4) Diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
You can find out more by going to
World Kidney Day and pledging to make a change to look after your kidneys and those of the ones you love.
Peace and Love
S.A.M xoxo
