Our patients’ stories: From patient to advocate

Rachael Adler is not the kind of person who stands around waiting for life to happen. At 13, she’s a good student who participates in many school and community service events. And despite her young age, she’s been a key speaker at events held by both The New York Alliance for Donation (NYAD) and the Northeast Kidney Foundation. But Rachael didn’t get to be the strong, active young person she is today without overcoming adversity first—and overcoming that adversity is playing a big role in helping shape the person she wants to become. “A complete surprise” Rachael was a very healthy and active child growing up. At just 11 years old, she was on the verge of earning her Taekwondo black belt when suddenly everything changed. She became violently sick, vomiting and feeling very drained, which doctors originally blamed on the flu. But in a week’s time, Rachael went from bad to worse, which worried her parents Vicki and Howard, who both work in the medical field. (Vicki is a registered nurse and Howard is a physician’s assistant.) Rather than take chances, the couple brought their daughter to their local Emergency Department. “When Rachael got to the hospital, she underwent all kinds of tests, and the results were shocking,” Vicki says. “Her kidney was failing, and as a result her blood pressure had spiked. We went from thinking she had a stomach bug to talking to doctors about her hypertensive crisis and serious renal hemorr...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: All posts kidney transplant our patients' stories Pediatric Transplant Center (PTC) Source Type: news