Dad to give daughter kidney

When you’re a first time parent, you have a vision of how the birth will go, how it will feel to hold that baby and all the good things that will come with it.

What you don’t think about is all that can go wrong.

Wilhelmina Elliott was born early at 36 weeks. In March, she will turn three. She was five pounds, 11 ounces at birth and measured 18 inches in length.

At 20 weeks, her parents, Jerome and Stephanie Elliott, learned that she had large kidneys for her gestational age.

The pregnancy was anything but normal, despite Stephanie doing all the right things. Throughout her pregnancy, she had low amniotic fluid. When she went in for an ultrasound at 36 weeks, they noticed she had hardly any fluid and decided to take the baby right then.

“I just kept saying, ‘This is not what we wanted,’” recalled Stephanie.

Two days after her birth, Wilhelmina was taken for newborn screenings and didn’t return like her parents had planned. 

“They told us her potassium level was at 8.1, which was cardiac arrest level,” said Stephanie, adding that she and Jerome were worried and scared.

Wilhelmina was taken to Kosair Children’s Hospital. Her doctor said they had to have a serious discussion about their daughter’s status.

“He told us, ‘She’s a beautiful baby, but she’s going to need a kidney transplant.’”

She was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and ended up spending 21 days in the NICU.

Her parents recalled that she came home from the hospital with several medications and special formula because of her low iron.

“It’s been a wild ride!” said Stephanie.

Doctors continue to check Wilhelmina’s blood levels weekly and she has regular doctor visits.

Because her numbers were not improving, she was placed on a list for a transplant and received a pediacath, which is a catheter made for children.

Recently, Wilhelmina spent several weeks in the hospital due to an issue with her pediacath. The visit moved her up on the wait list for a new kidney and after her dad went through the testing, they discovered that he is a match.

“So on Halloween, she’s getting a new kidney,” said Stephanie. 

On Oct. 31 the two will undergo surgery. Wilhelmina will get a new kidney and her dad will lose one of his.

While they are nervous about the procedure, they know it is what they need to do for their daughter.

The family has had its fair shares of ups and downs, but they are thankful for every day they have had with their daughter and her younger sister, Eva.

“She has taught us so much, especially patience,” said Stephanie. “She’s also taught us to take one day at a time. She’s different, but you just treat her the same as everyone else. She’s truly as unique as her name.”

A benefit for the family is being planned for Oct. 13. 

While Stephanie stays home with the girls, Jerome works at GKN as a maintenance mechanic. After his surgery, he will need to take six weeks off from work.

The Motorcycle Poker Ride will start and end at the Salem Moose Lodge. Sign up is at 11 a.m. with departure at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $15 single and $20 for couples, which includes dinner. The dinner will start at 5 p.m. and the cost is $8 a person. An auction will follow dinner.

For more information, or to drop off auction items, contact Chad Elliott at 812-844-2699 or Sheila Elliott at 812-620-4683. 

“We’ve learned, life is hard,” said Stephanie. “Be happy. Be thankful.”

Jerome added, “She’s gone through a lot in two years. But things are going to get better.”