A 12-year-old girl was given a second chance at life after her mother donated her kidney.
Alyse Naquin, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease two years ago.
Within that short period, her condition deteriorated so rapidly that doctors told her parents she was in need of a kidney transplant.
The family feared they would have to go through months, or even years, of testing before a match was found.
But, six months later, Alyse’s mother Melissa was found to be a perfect match.
Alyse Naquin, 12, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome – a rare, kidney disease – two years ago. Pictured, left to right: Andy Naquin, Alysa Naquin and Melissa Naquin
Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder in which the body excretes too much protein in the urine. Alyse was on dialysis 10 hours per day and would swell up so much from water retention that 35 pounds would be excreted in one sitting. Pictured: Alyse, left, and Melissa
Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder in which the body excretes too much protein in the urine.
It is caused by damage to small blood vessels in the kidneys that filter out fluid and waste.
Signs of the disorder include foamy urine, severe swelling in the ankles and feet, weight gain and fatigue.
Nephrotic syndrome may be treated with medications such as blood pressure medication to reduce the amount of protein excreted or water pills to reduce swelling and fluid retention.
But others may suffer from kidney failure, despite undergoing treatments, and be in need of a transplant.
An August 2003 study from University of Washington found the disease to occur between two and seven per 100,000 children in the US every year.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 661,000 Americans are suffering from kidney failure.
The disease left Alyse on dialysis for 10 hours per day, reported KLFY.
Alyse’s mother, Melissa, told the station her daughter would swell up so much from water retention that 35 pounds would be excreted in one sitting.
After Melissa and Alyse’s father, Andy, were told Alyse needed a kidney transplant, both of them decided to get tested
In a rare occurrence, both were found to be match, according to WDSU.
After some deliberation, the couple decided Melissa would be the donor.
Doctors told Alyse’s parents she needed a kidney transplant. Andy and Melissa were tested and, in a rare instance, both were found to be a match and decided Melissa would be the one to donate. Pictured, left and right: Alyse
The operation occurred on December 23 at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. Pictured: Alyse with her parents and two sibings
‘I gave her life once, and I said: “Why not? We’re gonna give her life again”,’ Melissa said.
After the donor’s and recipient’s blood are proven to be compatible, there are two more blood tests, according to Allina Health.
The first is tissue-typing, which looks at the number of antigens, or genetic markers, the donor and recipient share.
The second is cross-matching, which is to ensure the recipient will react to the new kidney.
These are followed by a physical exam, a chest X-ray, a CT scan of the abdomen, a follow-up blood test within a week of the scan, and a 24-hour urine collection.
The operation took place on December 23 at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans.
Alyse said she is glad to not be on dialysis anymore.
‘It’s very special that my mom gave me a kidney,’ she told WDSU. ‘To not be on dialysis at night is awesome and to eat what I want, it’s like a whole new life.’
Over the last year, the family has been raising money for kidney disease research in the hopes of finding a cure. So far, they’ve raised more than $25,000.
‘There’s thousands and thousands of kids who suffer from this, and Alyse has put it in her mind that she is going to raise money to help find a cure for it,’ Alyse’s father, Andy Naquin, told WDSU.