Hi! I would love for you to meet our son, Henry! Henry was born with renal agenesis. He started dialysis at only 4 days old, and is still on dialysis at almost 3 years old! Henry has been through so much in his short little life: a stroke from his HD line (which is ironic, as that was what was keeping him alive at the time), meningitis, seizures—he's been through it. This little boy has taught us so much about strength, resilience, courage, and love. I strive to be as strong as Henry; we strive to be the absolute best support system for Henry. While Henry was in the NICU for 159 days, the nurses named his NICU room Henry's Hive! I'd like to tell you more about Henry and why a transplant would be life changing for him!

So.... welcome to the hive!!

Henry is the absolute sweetest little boy you will ever meet. He is so happy, his laugh is beyond contagious. He is very strong willed and strongly opinionated. He will always let you know how he's feeling about what's happening around him. He's a hoot. Henry loves any noise making toys; he likes sounds out of the ordinary. This stinker will laugh at you coughing or sneezing; he will laugh at you hurting yourself. He enjoys playing with toys, but mostly throwing the toys and hearing them crash on the floor. He has this sweet spot near his collar bone that if you kiss, he smiles so big he can't keep his eyes open. Henry is an old man in a 3-year-old's body; he keeps that hand behind his head just chilling—we catch him sleeping like that OFTEN.

A kidney transplant for Henry would be life changing. Henry's never had renal function and has depended on dialysis his whole life. Dialysis only replaces a percentage of renal function, making him have low energy and nausea. Henry has to have injections 2x a week to produce red blood cells, since your kidneys are what release that hormone. When Henry gets his kidney, we are really hoping to see his energy spike and his development skyrocket!

We are asking for donations to help with Henry's upcoming transplant. The transplant itself is covered by insurance. However, we will have to spend about 2 months in Cincinnati post-transplant. This is the most critical time after surgery, and we need to be close to the hospital. This involves finding a spot for us to stay, food, groceries, and gas for Cody, who will travel back and forth on the weekends to see his two boys and I. We understand that things are so tight financially for most right now, and we ask that if you cannot donate, to pray for Henry. Pray that he finds that perfect kidney, that it will last for years and years, and that he just becomes the best version of himself possible. We’re starting this fundraiser before transplant because we want to be prepared when Henry’s call comes, rather than scrambling to figure everything out afterward.

Thank you to our hive of people, we wouldn't be as far as we are without your support and prayers. We love each and every one of you. We are so blessed to be able to share this boy of ours with you.

Love, Henry's Hive