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This
is Keagan's Story When you are six year old boy, the hardest decision you should have to make is one cookie or two with your glass of milk; for Keagan Turrubiates things will never be that simple.
Keagan was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome in November 2007. He has to monitor exactly what he eats, not consuming more than 1500mg of sodium each day or any more than his strict allocation of fluids. Nephrotic Syndrome has left him so swollen at points he can not even tie his own shoes. This swelling occurred because of the break down of nephrons in his kidneys which regulate the protein and water balance in the body.
Since there is no cure for this disease, Keagan has been put on a pill regime which includes high doses of the steroid prednisone, side effects that include severe mood swings, hyper-activity, increased appetite and a lowered immune system. He also takes Zantax to aid in the agonizing stomach pains that are a result of the medication.
Keagan is currently in “remission” and being weaned off the steroids but anything from a missed pill, to a virus could cause him to relapse and perhaps advance the disease to the point where he would need dialysis and an eventual transplant.
Nephrotic Syndrome is a devastating disease that most often occurs in children around the age of six. There is no known cure or cause. Keagan’s family and The NephCure Foundation are fighting to bring an end to this disease.
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