Benson

Benson had a 6-month checkup with our kidney doctor yesterday, including a kidney ultrasound, 24-hour urine collection and blood work.  In almost every respect, things are looking great for him with no changes in most of his numbers!  Considering his disease, there's not much more we could ask for in the way his numbers look and for his health in general.

There's only two instances of slight concern:  His creatinine (kidney function) is slightly above the high limit of the normal range; and his kidneys aren't growing well.  His creatinine has been above normal for about a year or so, but still seems to be keeping up with things okay.  But the fact that he kidneys aren't growing well does cause some concern.  He's growing big and strong like 7-year old should...but his kidneys aren't.  Which leaves us to wonder how long they're going to be able to keep up with all the work they're going through filtering oxalate.  How much reserve is left in them?

Not very fun questions to think about because there is no answer.  There's nothing more we can do than what we're doing.  Only time will tell.

Sometimes I get tired of asking/telling/reminding my kids every day about how much fluid they've had.  But I've finally determined that it is simply my lot to keep reminding my kids over and over and over again to drink Drink DRINK!  There won't ever come a time when filling up a water bottle and placing it in their hands won't be of great importance for their health.  Our prayers will never cease and neither will our cups of water!

We are grateful for every day...and will be grateful for every year Benson has until he takes his turn at transplant.