Eryk's Dialysis/Medical Fund

In July of 1998, Eryk was born 5 1/2 weeks early. The doctors decided it was his time to come out and meet the world! When I was 5 months pregnant, a routine ultrasound showed that his kidney's, ureters, and bladder where all distended with urine that was not passing through him. There was a tiny blockage somewhere in his urinary tract. We were given the choice of having him, or abortion. Of course we chose to keep him!
After bringing him out early to do a minor surgery to open a blockage just below his bladder, he was diagnosed with Eagle Barrett Syndrome (aka Prune Belly Syndrome). Meaning lack of abdominal muscles, that resulted in a bunch of urology problems including kidney failure.
After spending 2 months in intensive care, and another 3 weeks in the ward, Eryk was allowed to come home for the first time!
When Eryk was 9 months old, he had surgery to reconstruct his urinary tract. The surgeons also tried to give him some sort of tummy support since he didn't have any abdominal muscles. This surgery was the longest, 6 1/2 hours of our lives!!
Over the past 14 years, Eryk's kidney failure was controlled with medication, and numerous visits to the doctors! But we always knew that puberty puts a lot of stress on the kidneys. On August 12th 2013, we came to Winnipeg for what we thought was one of our routine monthly check-ups. Eryks levels had spiked, and something was wrong. After numerous tests, we found out that his only semi-working kidney wasn't draining into his bladder. Eryk had surgery to put a drainage tube into his right kidney. This brought his creatinine down a bit, but not enough. And when the docs clamped his drainage tube, they figured he had yet another blockage since his bladder wouldn't drain.
So on Aug. 26th, Eryk was back into surgery getting stents implanted into both ureters, and a PD catheter placed into his belly so he could start dialysis as soon as he heals. At least he will be able to do dialysis at home, with his family!
After spending 3 weeks in the hospital, we got to come home. Even with his kidney drainage tube! But we only get a 3 day break,and its back to Winnipeg on Tuesday. Hopefully the tube can come out, and we don't need to start dialysis for a few weeks.
We still have a very long road ahead of us! Eryk will hopefully get a kidney transplant within 6-12 months, and he will finally be on the road to recovery!!
Thank you everyone who has supported us over our long journey!!


Sept. 3rd/13 update: We just got home from our appointment in Winnipeg. Eryk needed to get his bandages changed....and found out that urology and nephrology are trying to co-ordinate another surgery to stabilize the stents running from both kidneys to his bladder. This will be done within the next week or so. And as soon as he is somewhat healed, he starts dialysis.