My Brave Brother

 by Jeremy Schobel

About 7 months ago my 7 year old brother was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, which is a kidney disease.

At first he went to the hospital for IV (intravenous) treatments. When he gets an IV treatment the nurses stick a needle that is attached to a tube into his arm. The tube is attached to a machine that pumps medicine into his body. In the beginning he had 3 IV treatments in one week! That was really tough for everyone in my family. Next he had an IV treatment every single week! Then it switched to every other week.

My brother has been very very brave. I know he doesn't like the IVs. It is really hard to watch my brother have a needle stuck in him for my whole family and a lot harder for him!

The treatments are really working! You wouldn't even know he has a disease. My brother still runs around and participates in sports ( He is great at soccer).

My brother has to take different kinds of medicine every day. The medicine makes him hyper. His medicine also makes him more vulnerable to colds and viruses. Since he gets sick more often he has to take another medicine, but he doesn't complain or make a fuss about taking the medicines.

My brother can't have very salty foods because he is on a low salt diet. He absolutely hates the diet but he deals with it. He isn't allowed to have McDonalds or Burger King often. I bet he really misses fast food. My brother is the bravest most courageous person I know.