Hudson Ireland undergoes nightly dialysis and is scheduled to receive a kidney transplant on Jan. 17, two days before his second birthday.
HOLLAND, Mich. — A toddler in Holland has been battling a rare kidney disease since the day she was born. Now she needs a kidney transplant to survive, and it's her father who will be the one to deliver her new kidney.
Hudson Ireland is not yet 2 years old, but she has already overcome more obstacles than most adults. “She's a foot-tall ball of hope,” says Hudson's mother, Kendra Ireland.
Hudson seemed to be constantly sick during the first few months of his life, especially with his extremely red and swollen eyes.
“I knew something was wrong,” Kendra said. “This was definitely more than just a normal illness.”
When he was just nine months old, Hudson was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease called congenital nephrotic syndrome.
“It was such a big day, it felt like when she was born,” Kendra said. “It was such a surreal moment, with all the doctors in the room and wondering if this was really happening.”
according to Hopkins MedicineThe disease involves protein in the urine and body swelling, and often leads to infections, malnutrition and kidney failure, often resulting in death by the age of five.
“She is also at high risk for blood clots and high blood pressure, and has a very weakened immune system,” Kendra explained.
“Unfortunately, this is an incurable disease,” she explained. “The only semi-cure is a kidney transplant,” and to keep the new kidney healthy, both kidneys must be removed because the disease can still spread after the transplant.
Kendra and Hudson's father, Cody, were faced with a harsh reality: About a year ago, little Hudson had his first kidney removed.
“She was really touching,” Kendra said. “She didn't know what was going on, but she did a great job.”
“Helen DeVos Children's Hospital took such great care of us the whole time,” she added, “All of the nurses and Dr. Goebel, our nephrologist at Hudson, were all amazing.”
Hudson's recovery was going well and things were going well, but within a few months it became clear he would need a second kidney removal surgery.
“We wanted to wait and give her the opportunity to have a fun summer,” Kendra said. “We know how much she loves playing in the water, so we wanted her to spend her last summer in the water.”
Hudson's second kidney was removed just after Thanksgiving 2022.
“The surgery was much harder on her body than we expected,” Kendra said.
The recovery was difficult, and Hudson's incisions began to reopen soon after he returned home, and Kendra described him as constantly lethargic.
“It was a little heartbreaking to see her like that,” Kendra said. “It was really hard for us to keep looking at the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Thankfully, her wounds have healed.
“She's doing much better and is definitely becoming a bit more like herself,” Kendra said. “Her spunky personality is coming back.”
Hudson now undergoes nightly dialysis and is scheduled to receive a kidney transplant on January 17, two days before his second birthday.
So who was the donor? Her father, Cody.
The process wasn't easy: Cody had to undergo the same, if not more, tests and treatments than Hudson to be approved as a donor, Kendra explained.
“We had been anxious for weeks,” Kendra said, “so when it was approved, it was a huge sigh of relief for us.”
Kendra explained that a living kidney can last 15 to 20 years after donation, but she already has a plan for that.
“Unfortunately, she will need to undergo another transplant,” Kendra said, “but after that we will go through all the paperwork and testing and see if the transplant committee will approve my donation.”
“We have done the best we can with what we have been given,” she added. “We want and will strive to ensure that next year and beyond will give our daughter as normal a childhood as possible.”
If you would like to support little Hudson and help celebrate her upcoming second birthday, please join us on Saturday, January 7th for a drive-by parade hosted by Hudson's family.
Cars will gather at Rose Park Christian School at noon and drive past Hudson and her family, waving and wishing her well. Click to read more. here.
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