Help TonTon's Kidney Transplant

Please join Team TonTon and help HULK SMASH his Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)!

Marc Anthony Shaver-Lozano AKA “TonTon” was born with Congenital Kidney Disease and is still fighting an epic battle against it.

CKD is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function, impairing the body’s ability to eliminate waste. Pediatric CKD differs from adult CKD as it impacts growth and is associated with many long-term complications. CKD also causes issues with overall nutrition, bone disorder, anaemia, and possible cardiovascular and neurocognitive complications.

Most of his 2 years of life, TonTon has been in the “failure to thrive” category on the clinical growth charts. Unable to hold his food and with endless vomiting, a common side effect of CKD, our TonTon needed surgery to place a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) when he was just 1 years old.

Tonton has had numerous hospital and doctor visits. So much so his play time involves TonTon playing doctor and giving pretend shots to his patients. Despite all these challenges TonTon is a happy boy, constantly laughing and playing. He has overcome odds and despite the possible neurocognitive impact of pediatric CKD he has surprised doctors with his intellect and ability to hold a conversation at just 2 years old. Thanks be to God for our little fighter and as TonTon would say “HULK SMASH!”

Our hero has a great team fighting beside him; his mom, Annalyn his dad, Marcus and his big sister, Samari, along with the superb teams of Stanford Medical and Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. He also has his best buddies Thomas the Tank Engine, Iron Man and The Hulk!

Currently, his kidney functionality is at 20% and has reached stage 4 CKD. He’s proven to be very tough for someone who won’t be 3 until November, however action must still be taken! TonTon’s growth had been blunted so the doctors prescribed growth hormones (GH) to have him grow fast enough to receive a transplant. For the last 6 months TonTon received a shot of GH administered daily by his dedicated parents, who found giving this treatment a great challenge. Having to hold down your screaming child for an injection could be emotionally taxing, but they persevered.

Now that the doctors believe he has grown enough and won’t reject his new kidneys, TonTon is officially on the donor list as of May 1st 2017!

TonTon has 3 months to find a donor. Once they receive a call that a donor is found TonTon and his mom will immediately fly to California for surgery, where they will remain for another 3 months for monitoring. We’ve recently discovered that his Aunty Gina is a match and may be a donor should TonTon not find a more suitable donor by the end of July. Aunty Gina is studying to become a veterinarian in New Zealand, but the age difference and distance create certain hurdles. Insurance will be covering most of TonTon’s expenses, unfortunately his super team still needs to make up another $15,000.

TonTon says he would like to be The Hulk when he grows up because in TonTon’s words “Hulk is strong and he fights the bad guys-HULK SMASH!” Sometimes even superheroes need a little extra assistance. Please make a donation to aide a brave little super hero win his next big battle!

#TeamTonTonSMASH #HulkSMASH