Logan's Fight Against Kidney Disease

Hello everyone, my name is Barbara Sharlow and I am raising funds on behalf of my grandson Logan and his family. Logan is the strongest little boy I know and has already fought through so much in his young life prior to this new diagnosis. On February 10th, Logan woke up feeling nauseous and his whole face and body were swollen. After a trip to the pediatrician, the ER and ultimately Fairfax Children’s Hospital, he was admitted and diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, known as nephrotic syndrome. This disease does not have a cure and the cause is unknown. Even though there is no cure at this time, some patients can achieve remission with medication. However, patients do frequently relapse after remission when they get sick or if they have allergies, so it is something Logan will be fighting for many years. When he gets sick and his immune system ramps up, it will start to attack his kidneys, rather than the illness, which will cause him to relapse. High-dose steroids are used to treat this disease and for 90% of patients, the steroids can put them in remission. Unfortunately, Logan has a more complicated case and he did not respond to the steroid treatment alone.

Since being diagnosed, Logan has been hospitalized twice, he has had a kidney biopsy and he has needed to go into the hospital several times a week for albumin infusions. They have also traveled to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion because Logan has such a complicated case. Logan has been started on a strong immunosuppressant drug used on transplant patients to try and help lower the amount of protein he is spilling each day in addition to his steroids. He has also been put on two medications to control his high blood pressure, which is a side effect of his disease and the steroids. He is also on a PPI medication to help protect his stomach from the steroids. Logan’s diet has been drastically changed as well. He is currently restricted to less than 1 gram of sodium a day and his parents have started him on a dairy-free and gluten-free diet in hopes that it will help lower his inflammation.

Logan’s parents are both teachers and throughout all of this, they have had to take off work to be with him through all of his treatments and hospitalizations. They are unfortunately out sick days and have been taking unpaid leave. My daughter, Jamie, has been out of work on unpaid leave for nearly a month to be by his side. Because of this and the mounting hospital and medical bills, I am trying to raise funds for their family as they navigate this terrible disease and try to adjust to their new normal. Logan is such a strong and resilient little boy and he has the best sense of humor. He has such an outgoing personality and is loved by everyone who knows him. He is such an inspiration to our family and he means the world to all of us. Thank you for taking the time to read Logan’s story and for all of the love and support Logan has received since being diagnosed.