Meet Abbey and Aiden, a sibling duo who found care when they needed it most

When two separate diagnoses hit siblings around the same time, Children's Health was there to stabilize both kids - and the entire family.

Abbey, 16, likes to perform – singing, dancing, acting – she’s always ready for the stage. While her younger brother, Aiden, 11, likes video games, cars and would like to be a geologist when he grows up.  

One thing they share is an appreciation for the nurses and doctors at Children's Health℠, and a deep compassion for other kids and teens dealing with illnesses. Aiden, who was born with kidney disease, receives care from the nephrology and urology teams. Abbey was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and migraines when she was 10 and has been receiving care from the neurology team ever since.  

“We want other kids to know that when you come to Children’s Health, it’s okay if you feel scared. I was really scared to visit the hospital, but now I love seeing my nurses and the Child Life team,” Abbey said.  

Aiden’s gratitude is inspired by the comfort he found in knowing there are other kids with his diagnosis and other kids with their own unique health conditions.  

I want other kids to know that when you come to Children’s Health, you’ll never feel alone. There are so many people who will understand what you’re going through and it’s really easy to make friends here,” Aiden said.  

Aiden’s care team stays by his side from day one 

Before he was born, doctors at a local hospital told his parents that baby Aiden’s kidneys weren’t working right. As the doctors monitored his health in utero, they eventually decided his condition was worsening and they needed to induce labor.  

A couple of days later, their mom Darcie, Brett and baby Aiden met Jyothsna Gattineni, M.D., Children’s Health pediatric nephrologist.  

Dr. Gattineni gently explained that Aiden had hydronephrosis, a swelling in the urinary tract that happens when one or both of the tubes carrying urine from Aiden's kidneys to his bladder became blocked. With close monitoring and medication, his clinical team expected the condition would fix itself over time.  

But Aiden’s case was severe. And at seven months old, he had his first surgery.  

The family hoped Aiden’s surgery would be the beginning of the end of his kidney care. While it did fix the reflux, unfortunately, his kidneys had been so strained while he was in utero and during those first few months, that Aiden now had advanced kidney disease.  

That means that Aiden’s kidneys weren’t able to properly remove waste from the blood, create the hormones needed to produce new red blood cells, or produce vitamin D like they’re supposed to.  

Altogether, these presented a number of health risks for Aiden – including weight loss, anemia and high blood pressure. So for the next few years Dr. Gattineni and his urologist prioritized minimizing Aiden’s kidney infections and helping him gain enough weight.  

“When he turned five, his doctors were so concerned about his weight they decided he would need a feeding tube,” Darcie said.  

The surgery proved to be a pivotal point for Aiden’s care – and his relationship with Children’s Health.  

“When I got my feeding tube I was scared, and it was hard for me to sleep. I was in the hospital for awhile, and I couldn’t get out of bed. Then my child life specialist started bringing me stuff to do,” Aiden said. “It made me feel really happy that they cared about me and wanted me to have fun there. “ 

Child life specialists help patients understand their diagnoses and treatment. Child Life extends its offerings to patient families as well, providing emotional support and helping them cope with what they are experiencing. These services, which make life easier for kids and families experiencing the unthinkable, come at no-cost to patient families and rely on philanthropic support.   

Once he was able to get out of bed, Aiden headed straight for the playroom. Seeing her son’s spirit brighten and his health slowly be restored was the relief that Darcie had been waiting for.

“Watching Aiden be in so much pain after surgery was really difficult. But then when you start to see them get better, gaining weight and growing, you know you made the right choice,” Darcie said. “When he became more focused on playing than on being sick, I was relieved.” 

After five years of living with a feeding tube, Aiden’s doctors gave him the good news that he didn’t need it anymore. But that didn’t mean he was out of the woods yet.  

Dr. Gattineni is keeping a close eye on Aiden's kidney function because sometimes when kids with kidney problems hit growth spurts, their kidney function starts to decline. For now, Aiden is doing well. He’s playing is ukulele and enjoying his friends. And his family knows  that whatever kind of care Aiden needs, his nephrology and urology teams will be ready.  

Abbey meets her own care team who turns her fears into confidence  

While Darcie and Brett were focused on Aiden’s advancing kidney decline, older sister Abbey couldn’t stop shaking.  

“It started in second grade. I started shaking, and it was hard to write. I'm a very organized person, and so I was always feeling stressed when I was shaking uncontrollably,” Abbey said.  

Then came the headaches, which grew to be unbearable.  

Soon the family was on their way to Children’s Health and hoping that doctors could help Abbey. And even though she’d been to the hospital with her brother, Abbey admits, she was nervous.  

“I was very scared about going to the doctor. When I heard hyperthyroidism for the first time, it was shocking because it was hard to know that something was wrong. But everyone at Children’s Health is always positive and they make sure you’re heard,” Abbey said.  

Abbey learned that her shaking was due to an overactive thyroid gland, which produces hormones to control our metabolism. Sometimes her body made too many of the hormones. Sometimes it made too few.  

Soon, Abbey started medication to help regulate her thyroid and manage her migraines. Eric Remster, M.D., a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Health, has since become one of Abbey’s greatest allies.  

“Dr. Remster always focuses on how I’m feeling. I really appreciate how he connects with me. Getting my medicine was a relief,” Abbey said. “Now I can go to Children’s Health and know that they want to do whatever they can to make us feel better.”  

Darcie also was relieved.  

As a parent, it’s not easy to see your child go through things, especially when it involves their health. Aiden has had several surgeries, and Abbey’s road hasn’t been easy,” Darcie said. “But we’ve been really fortunate to have such wonderful care teams, and it makes a huge difference to know that people care about your kids.” 

Finding their groove as a Children’s Health family  

From the beginning, one thing Darcie focused on was ensuring their trips to the hospital were as stress-free and easy as possible. She didn’t want Abbey and Aiden to feel like they did anything wrong to cause their medical conditions.  

So, she prioritized doing something fun on the day of a visit. That could mean a visit to a park, a toy shop or a restaurant after their visit.  

But then Darcie had an idea. She wanted to be more involved with parents and families like hers – with kids who regularly visited Children’s Health and felt like the hospital was a positive part of their lives.  

Through the Child Life team, they connected with other Children's Health families and began attending renal holiday parties and joining events at the Seacrest Studios, where Abbey is always ready to take the stage.  

The kids also went to Kidney Camp and are interested in becoming volunteers.  

“I think one of the unique things about Children's Health is that because of donors, the hospital system can provide an environment for patients that make it feel like they're not even in the hospital, like they're not even coming to a doctor's appointment. That gives them a whole different perspective on health and who they are,” Darcie said.

Meet more Children's Health patients

Read more patient stories like Abbey and Aiden's and meet our Patient Ambassadors to learn how Children's Health makes life better for children.

How you can help

Help kids like Abbey and Aiden by exploring our ways to give or by giving today!