Holland toddler thriving after kidney transplant from father
HOLLAND — Cody and Kendra Ireland welcomed their daughter Hudson into the world just over two years ago.
While there was unbelievable joy, Hudson's life has already been filled with highs and lows.
Since birth, Hudson battled a parade of symptoms, ranging from respiratory infections, ear infections, eye swelling, hypothyroidism and viruses. After getting bloodwork back from their pediatric office in October 2021, Hudson was admitted to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids.
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A subsequent test revealed a massive amount of protein loss in Hudson's urine and low levels of albumin, a blood protein. She was soon diagnosed with a rare kidney disease called Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome. Without a kidney transplant, the family was told, Hudson wouldn't survive.
Hudson's kidneys were eventually removed, and afterward she received dialysis every night for close to 12 hours. After more tests, the family learned Cody was a blood and tissue match.
After a long journey, Hudson and Cody went into surgery on Feb. 21, pushed back from an original January date. In the weeks leading up to the procedure, the community organized a parade past the family's home in Holland, hosted by Shields of Hope West Michigan. Cars drove by with lights, sirens, signs, smiles and balloons.
It was an intense surgery, with required quarantines before and after. But the couple says Hudson has responded well. She's home and thriving.
Cody said there were good and bad days. His first goal post-surgery was to see his daughter. He couldn’t walk, but staff wheeled him to Hudson's room.
“They wheeled me up to see her and there were many tears shed,” Cody said. “I was happy the kidney was doing well for her, but going into her room and seeing her hooked up to all the equipment, it was really hard to see.”
They ended up staying in the hospital for almost 20 days.
“By about week two or three, Hudson really began to start shining,” Cody said. “She was standing up and she was playing again.”
Because of Hudson's compromised immune system, the family has been in quarantine since returning home. On Monday, April 10, they'll be able to leave for the first time.
“My wife and I joke because it feels like we got a different kid when we got home,” Cody said. “I think now that she feels good and has a kidney that's working for her, she's so joyful. She's constantly playing, she's full of energy and she won’t stop talking and making noises. She just wants to interact with anybody she can.
“It's such a joy to watch her because she isn’t sick anymore. This is the longest period of her life where she hasn’t been sick.”
Because the match came from a living family member, doctors told the family the kidney will last longer — hopefully more than 25 years — before Hudson needs another surgery.
“I’ve been asked if I would do it again and if it was worth it and the answer is yes, a thousand times over,” Cody said. “The month and a half where I was miserable, I think that's probably how she's felt her entire life.
“Our focus now is to ensure that she continues to do well and we're really excited to see her blossom and grow up.”
— Contact freelancer Austin Metz at ametz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland toddler thriving after kidney transplant from father
