ARTICLES RELATED TO:
nephrology

When Piper was just a year old, her parents, Chris and Erin, noticed something unusual—she woke up one morning with a puffy face. Concerned, they took her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, where doctors quickly determined there was a kidney issue. What followed was a long and complex journey to find the right diagnosis. After weeks of testing, Dr. Tapia identified Piper’s condition as Denys-Drash Syndrome—a rare and serious kidney disorder with only about 250 known cases worldwide. For the next seven months, Piper underwent treatment, but as her disease progressed, her family faced a difficult decision. To prevent the development of Wilms tumor—an almost certain outcome of Denys-Drash—it was decided Piper’s kidney would be removed under the care of Dr. Stephen Dunn. By December, she received a life-changing gift: a kidney transplant from her dad, Chris. “Dr. Dunn is a gift from God,” says Chris. “He gave our daughter […]

Joshua’s story begins with his 20-week anatomy scan, which revealed signs of a lower urinary tract obstruction. Born with underdeveloped and cystic kidneys, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Holly, Joshua’s mother, recalls, “We were told before his birth that if he survived, he would need dialysis to bridge him to a kidney transplant.” “Joshua’s condition has been difficult since birth,” shares Holly. “He had frequent labs, appointments, hospitalizations, and dialysis. His treatments have always been a bridge to transplant. He was medically fragile which impacted the entire family. We have spent much of his life isolating and with limited activity. Despite all this, we know that God is good and we have relied on our faith to help us through the difficult years.” A pivotal moment in Joshua’s journey came when Nemours Children’s Health entered their lives. Recommended by their local medical team, Joshua’s family transitioned to care […]

From the moment he was born, Luca has been full of surprises. He entered the world in February 2022, a month earlier than expected. Anticipating a baby girl, complete with a gender reveal celebration, Luca’s parents were surprised by his arrival. Their anatomy scan’s mistaken prediction left them pleasantly surprised by their baby boy. Shortly thereafter, concerns arose regarding Luca’s kidney health, along with some unfavorable lab results. Luca was transported to the NICU and later taken to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “When the doctors at Inspira Mullica Hill started to get an inkling that Luca had serious kidney issues, they recommended right away that we be transferred to Nemours Children’s,” says his mother, Cory. “We appreciated their honesty so much, as they explained to us that they didn’t have the capability to deal with Luca appropriately. One doctor even said that if this was his child, he would have […]

Rocco started his freshman year in September 2021, excited to be in high school and ready for a new school year. Two weeks into the school year, Rocco and his family went to their favorite skate park. Rocco fell off his skateboard and injured his leg. His parents took him to the emergency room, where they found out he fractured his right ankle. During his workup in the emergency room, the care team noticed that Rocco’s blood pressure was high. Stacey, Rocco’s mom, initially did not think much of it, considering he had just broken his ankle. But the ER nurse was very insistent that they make a follow up appointment with Rocco’s pediatrician. Stacey took note and monitored Rocco’s blood pressure over the next few days. When Rocco’s blood pressure did not return to normal, Stacey immediately made an appointment with their pediatrician. At the pediatrician’s office, Stacey made […]