At 13 years old, Vincent found himself facing a painful and unexpected health challenge. What began as a nagging low back pain quickly escalated when he noticed blood in his urine. Alarmed, his family took him to urgent care, where the initial tests confirmed the presence of blood but also revealed a more serious issue: a kidney stone. The urgent care team, recognizing the severity, referred them to the Nemours Children’s Health, Lakeland and then to the hospital in Orlando for further evaluation. “I was nervous about the wait time, but their staff worked to fit us in quickly,” says Vincent’s mom, Jessica. “From the beginning, they were responsive and attentive.”
The pain Vincent was experiencing disrupted every aspect of his daily life. “He couldn’t rest, enjoy his normal activities, or even feel comfortable sitting or lying down,” Jessica explains. “It was also very stressful for me as a parent to see him hurting and not be able to relieve his pain.”
At the Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, the focus shifted to assessing Vincent’s kidney function and the extent of the problem. Vincent underwent an in-depth ultrasound which showed not just one, but four kidney stones, including a seven-millimeter stone in his ureter. His treatment included surgery to place a stent to relieve the obstruction in the kidney followed by another surgery to fragment and remove the stone.
“Every single person we interacted with was wonderful,” says Jessica. “Nemours was amazing about staying in touch. Every time I sent a message through MyChart or called, they responded right away and always took me seriously. As a parent with past trauma from negative healthcare experiences, this was an incredible relief. Dr. Abhishek Seth explained everything thoroughly, Dr. Judit Szolnoki gave me vital information after surgery, and the anesthesiologists went out of their way to calm my fears. The nurses were so kind and gentle with Vincent, even using an ultrasound to find a vein when it was difficult, which really built his trust. My favorite thing was how caring and reassuring they all were, both to me and to Vincent.”
Both procedures went smoothly and were significant in his recovery. Today, Vincent has fully recovered, and his family is grateful for the care and support they received at Nemours. As Vincent looks to the future, he is excited to return to his normal activities without pain. “He has a birthday this month, and is back running for fun, and playing volleyball with his friends,” says Jessica. “We are hopeful that with Nemours’ continued support, he will stay healthy and free of kidney stones moving forward.”
To other families navigating a similar situation, Jessica advises, “Don’t be afraid to call and check for cancellations if you can’t get an appointment right away. Sometimes you can be seen much sooner than expected. Communicate openly with your care team; they are excellent at responding and easing your worries with information. Lastly, if you’re nervous or anxious, let them know because they truly have a way of calming fears and making you feel supported.”
