"I was 8 pounds 3 ounces and seemingly healthy when I was born. My parents were thrilled. They got the little girl they always wanted. "
Hi my name is
Kelly Horvath, and by the time I was six months old, my Mom knew something was
wrong with me. I was very listless, didn't eat well, and had a lot of
projectile vomiting. The pediatrician had an answer for all my mom's concerns.
He always told her there was nothing wrong, that she was just being a nervous
new mother.
When I was
13 months old, I had a bad cold and was really sick. My parents took me to the
emergency room thinking they could finally have me checked out good. I was so
malnutritioned and ill, I was taken away from my parents and they were accused
of child abuse. When that was finally straightened out, I was so ill from lack
of kidney function the doctors told my parents I may not live through the
night. I was sent to Ann Arbor Children's Hospital. After months of tests, I
was diagnosed with cystinosis. Mt parents were told to enjoy me because I
wouldn't live to see kindergarten. My kidney function was down to 20% and I
would eventually need a transplant. Well, aside from blood tests, horrible
medicines, weak bones, lots of blood transfusions, and very sensitive eyes,
things held up pretty well. I was able to be a fairly normal child. I did live
to see kindergarten. I did well in school and had a lot of friends.
When I was in sixth grade the time came for a
transplant. I was lucky. My parents were tested and my father was a perfect
match. I got my new kidney and everything went well. I made the cheerleading
squad and cheered sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. It was really fun. I was
the smallest of course so I got to be at the top of all the mounts.
It was pretty scary
starting high school but everyone treated me really well. The spring of my
freshman year, I had a stroke. This wasn't due to the cystinosis in any way. I
lost the total use of my right side. Even my speech. The physical,
occupational, and speech therapy was hard, but I got everything back. I even
had a home tutor so I could go on to my sophomore year with my class.
When I turned sixteen,
of course I wanted to drive. My parents found extenders to put on the pedals of
the car they bought me. All I ever wanted was to be normal and average but at
four foot it was sometimes hard. After I made it through high school, I went on
to a community college and received a two year degree in business. It was hard
to work because I had many doctor's appointments and didn't always feel well.
I wanted to move out on
my own but couldn't afford it on the amount of SSI I got. I couldn't work
enough to make up the difference between an SSI check and paycheck. My brother
came to my rescue. Dan had always told me when he graduated from high school
and could get a good enough job, he would get us an apartment so I could feel
what it was like to be out of my parent's house. Well, when he graduated he got
into Chrysler. We got a two bedroom apartment. He worked and paid the bills. I
did the shopping, cleaning, cooking, and laundry. But after a year and a half,
he fell in love. After a while Dan and his girlfriend got their own place and I
had to go back home.
A
short time after I moved home, my health started going downhill. After fifteen
years my kidney was failing again. Within eight months of moving home, I was
put on dialysis. I was very sick and didn't want to live like this. So again
family members were being tested for a possible kidney transplant. My brother
and sister were asked if the would be willing to be tested. Neither one of them
hesitated. Dan to the rescue again! He was a perfect match. I was in my room
taking a nap one day when Dan and my Mom came in and woke me up.
"I have something for you" Dan said. "How would
you like a new kidney?" he asked. I was still not awake and didn't hear him
right. "I don't want a kitty!" I said. Dan's girlfriend Jackie had come in I
noticed. All three of them were crying. "Kelly, Dan's a perfect match," Jackie
said. "He's gonna give you the kidney." It took months of tests and
preparation. The surgery was even scheduled and postponed once. On May 3, 2001,
we were both wheeled back into surgery. I had a rough recovery and hit a few
bumps in the road, but as always I fought hard and recovered well. Dan was off
work for seven weeks, but he is doing great too.
Now I am 28. I would
like to work part time but it messes up my SSI so much it isn't really worth
it. I am in the process of waiting for housing assistance so I can move out on
my own. In the meantime, my parents watch over me. My Mom and I go shopping and
out to eat every Saturday. I love playing with our golden retriever, Casey. He
thinks he is a 75 pound lap dog! I have a 16 year old sister who I enjoy very
much. I didn't do much socially in high school because I was always sick. I
like watching her grow up, go on her dates, proms, homecoming, etc. I just get
used to one boyfriend and she has moved on to a different one.
If Dan's kidney lasts
as long as my father's did (15 years) I'll be so happy.
Anyone who wants can email me at kelly072974@aol.com I would love to hear from you.
Kelly Horvath