Baby born without kidneys thriving after mum fought for his life

A baby born without kidneys in South Carolina has finally gone home after almost 200 days in hospital.

Baby River was diagnosed with bilateral renal agenesis at a 20-week scan, a rare condition where both kidneys do not develop. After being told to expect her unborn baby to die, his mum Alli travelled the 1,300-mile journey each week to Nebraska for River to receive the amniotic fluid that he was unable to produce himself.

He was subsequently born prematurely and had to be resuscitated and airlifted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Levine Children’s Hospital in North Carolina. He is now home and thriving.

‘He deserved a chance’

When Alli saw the ultrasound image at the 20-week scan, she said: “I knew right away something wasn’t right.”

The doctors told her to expect the worst following the diagnosis, but she explained: “I believed my baby deserved a chance, just like every other baby, regardless of his diagnosis”.

“I knew in my heart I had to do what is right, and do everything possible for him, regardless of what the outcome could be”.

Fierce advocate

After being born prematurely, doctors had to carefully work out how to replace the function of River’s kidneys. Alli described their time in the NICU as “the most heartbreaking, but yet, most rewarding experience in my life”.

She explained: “It made me happy knowing I was his mama and he was fighting for me just like I fought for him.”

She added: “Thankfully, River had the best nurses and doctors ever. His nurses specifically fought for him just as much as I did. They loved him like their own.”

Dr Aesha Maniar from Levine Children’s Hospital described Alli as “incredible,” adding: “Her dedication is the reason he’s here. She’s been his fiercest advocate from the very beginning.”

Happiest baby

Now home, Alli said River was “the happiest baby I have ever met”.

She explained how, in the future, River will need bladder reconstruction surgery and a transplant, but said that for now: “I am soaking in every moment with him and not taking anything for granted.”

She said: “It makes me happy that my baby is defying the odds. He is beating the statistics and proving people wrong every single day. I am excited that he gets to live the most normal life as possible for him. He deserved that chance, now look at us!”