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. |
