Waiting for kidney transplant
Julian Rittman from Rehoboth has been living without kidneys since December.
After having had more than 20 surgeries in his short life, 11-year-old Julian Rittman from Rehoboth is still positive and full of hope.
Julian was born with Denys Drash Syndrome, a rare disease that he was diagnosed with at the age of one.
He is currently the only patient in Namibia with the disease.
Last year he went into kidney failure and had to stay in hospital for several months because of high blood pressure. He started dialysis in September last year and in December both his kidneys were removed.
He is currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant and he continues to receive dialysis three times a week, travelling from Rehoboth to Windhoek.
According to his mother, Agnes, doctors were already concerned during her pregnancy as tests indicated there was something wrong with her baby.
Doctors performed a caesarean when Julian was born and apart from Julian having abnormal genitals (Hypospadias), he appeared to be a perfectly healthy child.
When Julian was six weeks old, he had to undergo a hernia operation. At 18 months he was diagnosed by a local paediatrician as having nephrotic syndrome, and the family's countless trips to South Africa began.
After a kidney biopsy was conducted Julian was diagnosed with the extremely rare Denys Drash Syndrome.
“Our lives were turned upside down, and our medical and travel expenses just kept mounting,” says Agnes.
In September last year Julian was placed on dialysis and on 27 December both of his kidneys were removed because his blood pressure was dangerously high.
After Julian started with dialysis in September last year, doctors advised the family that someone would have to take care of Julian 24 hours a day.
Because his immune system is weak, Julian is unable to attend school, but Agnes says they are trying to home-school him. “He is a very bright and intelligent boy.”
He is not allowed to eat anything that contains potassium or salt, and can only drink 500ml of liquid a day.
“My husband had to give up his employment in order to ensure that Julian was able to get to and from the dialysis unit each week,” Agnes says.
She explains that while her husband was the main breadwinner, she was the one with medical aid coverage. In the meantime Julian has been prepared to receive a kidney transplant.
According to her there are two potential donors - their eldest son and an aunt of Julian's. However, further testing needs to be done in Johannesburg to make sure that they are good matches.
Agnes says cost estimations from previous kidney operations indicate that they will need about N$900 000.
“We are preparing for the worst because we do not know how much the medical aid will pay for.”
She explains that the medial aid also does not pay for the donor, but they have asked a quotation from South Africa and it seems like they will pay a certain amount.
A trust fund has been established to help with Julian's medical expenses: The Julian Rittman Trust Fund – Registration number: 344/2007. Donations can be made to the following bank account: Bank Windhoek, Rehoboth branch, branch code: 486572, account number: 8004483342. For more information Agnes can be contacted via email at [email protected]
ELLANIE SMIT
Julian was born with Denys Drash Syndrome, a rare disease that he was diagnosed with at the age of one.
He is currently the only patient in Namibia with the disease.
Last year he went into kidney failure and had to stay in hospital for several months because of high blood pressure. He started dialysis in September last year and in December both his kidneys were removed.
He is currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant and he continues to receive dialysis three times a week, travelling from Rehoboth to Windhoek.
According to his mother, Agnes, doctors were already concerned during her pregnancy as tests indicated there was something wrong with her baby.
Doctors performed a caesarean when Julian was born and apart from Julian having abnormal genitals (Hypospadias), he appeared to be a perfectly healthy child.
When Julian was six weeks old, he had to undergo a hernia operation. At 18 months he was diagnosed by a local paediatrician as having nephrotic syndrome, and the family's countless trips to South Africa began.
After a kidney biopsy was conducted Julian was diagnosed with the extremely rare Denys Drash Syndrome.
“Our lives were turned upside down, and our medical and travel expenses just kept mounting,” says Agnes.
In September last year Julian was placed on dialysis and on 27 December both of his kidneys were removed because his blood pressure was dangerously high.
After Julian started with dialysis in September last year, doctors advised the family that someone would have to take care of Julian 24 hours a day.
Because his immune system is weak, Julian is unable to attend school, but Agnes says they are trying to home-school him. “He is a very bright and intelligent boy.”
He is not allowed to eat anything that contains potassium or salt, and can only drink 500ml of liquid a day.
“My husband had to give up his employment in order to ensure that Julian was able to get to and from the dialysis unit each week,” Agnes says.
She explains that while her husband was the main breadwinner, she was the one with medical aid coverage. In the meantime Julian has been prepared to receive a kidney transplant.
According to her there are two potential donors - their eldest son and an aunt of Julian's. However, further testing needs to be done in Johannesburg to make sure that they are good matches.
Agnes says cost estimations from previous kidney operations indicate that they will need about N$900 000.
“We are preparing for the worst because we do not know how much the medical aid will pay for.”
She explains that the medial aid also does not pay for the donor, but they have asked a quotation from South Africa and it seems like they will pay a certain amount.
A trust fund has been established to help with Julian's medical expenses: The Julian Rittman Trust Fund – Registration number: 344/2007. Donations can be made to the following bank account: Bank Windhoek, Rehoboth branch, branch code: 486572, account number: 8004483342. For more information Agnes can be contacted via email at [email protected]
ELLANIE SMIT
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