A Hanwood girl who received a kidney transplant as an infant has become an agent of change in the community.
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Eight year old Abby Butcher has spent around half her life in hospital, and was one of the youngest people in Australia to receive a kidney transplant when she was only 20 months old, a life saving gift from her dad Tony.
The idea for Hanwood Public School’s "Red Day" was instigated by Abby who had an impromptu meeting with the school’s principal Mrs Monica St Baker.
“Sick kidneys, and other things like sick hearts and livers don’t get a lot of notice and they are just as important as other diseases. So we need to do something about it! Kidney Week is coming up so lets do that!” Abby said to her principal.
‘Red Day’ was held last Thursday 28 May to raise awareness of kidney health.
Everyone dressed in red, had red kidney cupcakes, and every child in the school received a bottle of water to encourage good kidney health.
The money raised on the day was donated to Country Hope. The local charity supports local families of children with all types of life threatening illnesses.
Abby takes up to 12 tablets a day to keep her alive. She has blood tests every four weeks, and travels to Sydney every six weeks to see specialists. Abby will celebrate her seven year ‘kidney transplant anniversary’ in June.
Abby’s mother, Bec, said to look at her you would never know all she has and does endure.
“She is an amazing, inspirational little girl,” Ms Butcher said.
“Through promoting kidney health, early detection of kidney disease, and through research, doctors can hopefully find a cure one day so people like gorgeous Abby can lead long, healthy, normal lives.
“Unfortunately transplant is not a cure. It is an amazing treatment designed to prolong someone’s life but comes with its own set of life threatening complications and issues, with the average transplant kidney lasting 10 years.”
Ms Butcher said people can lose 90 per cent of their kidney function before they even start to feel unwell. Once kidney function falls below 10 per cent dialysis or transplant are the treatment options to keep someone alive.
“Finding a cure is a must.”