Hudson Ireland is a warrior who is battling cancer and numerous infections and illnesses at just two and a half years old.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Hudson Ireland is “everybody's favorite kid.”
But maybe her father is a little biased.
Cody Ireland said his 2 1/2-year-old son is cheerful and energetic and loves being around other people.
For the past few weeks, Hudson has been fighting for his life. Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. She has been diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), a type of cancer, and is battling a number of other infections and illnesses.
“It's just like wreaking havoc throughout your body,” Cody said.
Hudson's health problems began when she was young. She got sick frequently, and when she was nine months old, she was diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome, an extremely rare kidney disease.
She had to travel from her home in the Netherlands to Helen DeVos once a week to receive an IV drip. A few months later, she had both kidneys removed. She was undergoing dialysis every night. Eventually she needed a kidney transplant.
Thankfully, her father was the right man for it.
“We went into surgery side by side, and she operated on my left kidney,” Cody said.
After the transplant in February, Cody said her daughter's personality began to shine.
“For a month or two after the transplant, we could really see Hudson becoming Hudson,” Cody said. Despite how old I am, I have a hard time keeping up with her and her energy. ”
Unfortunately, that energy was short-lived. Summer came and she became unwell while camping with her family. She was airlifted to Helen DeVos and she was diagnosed with PTLD.
“I think that's what made this part of our journey a little more difficult because we got to see little glimpses of who she really is,” Cody says. I did.
The real battle has begun. She underwent chemotherapy, but her doctors also found the virus in her lungs, intestines and blood. They also diagnosed her with a rare immune system disease and fungal infection.
“The best way to describe this situation is we're just trying to survive,” Cody said of how he and his wife are dealing with the situation.
Then she needed surgery.
“Last Friday was probably the hardest night of our lives,” Cody said. “I had to sign papers and say goodbye to my children undergoing surgery that no one would give them a chance to do…I don’t think so.” There are feelings and words that I can relate to. Even though I knew it, it seemed unreal. ”
She survived the surgery. However, her fight continues.
Hudson's friends, family and community members filled her room with cards, Bible verses and photos after hearing her story. A meal train was organized and money was donated to help the family.
Despite what feels like bad news so many times, Cody and his wife remain hopeful.
“After everything that's been thrown at her in her life, she never gives up. This little two-and-a-half-year-old has been through more in her life than the majority of people in the world will experience in a lifetime. I've been through it,” Cody said. So there's always hope. ”
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