Renal
agenesis: the medical term used to describe a person born with only one kidney.
I was 16 years old before I even knew that I fell into this category. I
remember thinking, “what do you mean I only have one kidney?!” I remember being
shocked and confused; there were so many questions and so few answers. But looking
back I still don’t think I fully comprehended the way this would impact my
life. Suddenly activities I never gave a second thought to needed to be done
with ‘caution.’ Every symptom of a urinary tract infection or kidney infection
needed to be evaluated immediately. Just the week before I lived fairly
carefree. Now I was being told I would have to wear special padding during
softball to prevent injury or I shouldn’t participate at all. Life truly can
change in just the blink of an eye. But life went on, I accepted the changes. I
took extra precautions. It became a part of me and I was ok with that.
Now
here I am feeling the same way I did when I was 16: confused and holding onto
lingering questions. I met with a genetic counselor today to discuss the
pregnancy and any further testing that would be needed. In all honesty our
families are pretty lucky that we don’t have many things that put our child at
high risk. They aren’t even overly concerned about my nephew with Down Syndrome.
I felt pretty confident that we didn’t have much to worry about.
But then we came to renal agenesis…my kidney
has quickly become the significant topic of discussion because of the
pregnancy. Doctors are concerned about the strain pregnancy could place on my
kidney and the risk of kidney failure. Not only will my baby be in great danger
if that were to happen but so would I. More blood has been taken and I have to
do a 24 hour urine collection to determine a baseline for kidney function so
they can monitor it throughout the pregnancy. I have yet to do the urine
collection, out of fear. What if something is wrong? What will happen to the
baby? What will happen to me? Why was I even born this way??
If
I wasn’t already scared enough, the counselor broke more news to me. Renal agenesis
could very well be passed onto my child in the form of unilateral (the absence one
kidney) or worse yet bilateral (the absence of both kidneys). A person can live
a fairly normal life with one, but missing both is fatal. The baby would more
than likely only live a few hours after birth if he is born alive at all. This possibility
never crossed my mind. As a mother I am suppose to protect this child from any
harm and here I am the one that could pass this ‘genetic abnormality’ (as they
called it) onto him. But we are taking the necessary steps to get more answers.
In December we will have a special ultrasound at the hospital in Temple to
check for the presence of both kidneys and if they are unable to find them we
will go back for at least two more to be sure. For the duration of the pregnancy
I will be under the supervision of not only a doctor but an urologist as well.
I
am trusting God that He will watch over me and the baby. He is in control and
He will give us the strength to get through. I only wish I had more answers,
but God already knows the outcome and He is faithful to provide.
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| Our sweet baby at 10 weeks |
