PKD Life - Summer 2022 - 17

LEFT: PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGELO MERENDINO. THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL PURCELL.
" We know
Bennett has a
bright future
ahead of
him. "
The Homewood
family: Jamie,
Rachel, and
Bennett.
BENNETT'S STORY
Rachel Homewood,
Vancouver, Washington
My pregnancy went smoothly until week
37, when I had to be induced due to low
amniotic fluid. At the time, doctors
didn't realize the low fluid had anything
to do with my son. When Bennett was
born, he had trouble breathing, so he
went straight to the NICU. When he
wasn't responding to treatment, doctors
took him for a full-body scan. Afterward,
the doctor at the NICU brought me and
my husband, Jamie, into a conference
room and told us that Bennett had
ARPKD. We were shocked and didn't
know what that meant for his future.
Bennett came home after about a
month. At the beginning, Jamie and I
felt very overwhelmed. In addition to
being brand-new parents, we had to
learn how to take care of a chronically
ill child. We had to learn how to use
his oxygen and supplement with formula
and sodium. He's on six different
medications, so we also had to learn
what meds to give him and when. At 4
months old, he had several hernias as a
result of his enlarged
kidneys that needed to
be surgically repaired.
He's 3 now and sees a variety of specialists.
He saw a pulmonologist for the
first six months to help with his oxygen.
He currently sees a cardiologist due to
an aortic dilation, a gastroenterologist,
a dietitian, and a nephrologist. Due to
his enlarged kidneys, he worked with
an occupational therapist to learn how
to sit up, crawl, and walk. Recently, he
qualified to receive speech and physical
therapy services at his local preschool.
But in many ways, he's just a typical
little boy. He loves cars, dinosaurs, reading,
and coloring. He adores his teachers
and friends at preschool. Bennett is the
joy of our lives! He continues to show
his resilience in the face of his difficulties,
and we know he has a bright future
ahead of him.
My best advice:
Take things one day at
a time. If you focus on
the present day and
being the best parent
for your child, you can
get through anything!
There is also a community
of people waiting
to embrace you and
let you know you're
not alone.
*
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17
http://CONNECT.PKDCURE.ORG/VOICES-OF-PKD
PKD Life - Summer 2022

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