When Jonas was having gastrointestinal symptoms in September 2019, his parents, Heather and Jeremy, thought they would clear up within a few days. But when Jonas wasn’t getting any better, they took their then three-year-old son to their local hospital in Prince Edward Island.
Jonas was immediately admitted, and his care team tried to determine why he was so sick.
Sadly, Jonas’ health began to decline quickly. The pediatrician caring for him realized he needed to be transferred to the IWK. Heather and Jeremy were shocked, but they were also relieved to know he’d receive the specialized care that he urgently needed.
While on the way to the IWK in an ambulance, Jonas’ heart rate and blood pressure suddenly dropped. His parents were terrified. The paramedics knew they needed to get Jonas to the IWK quickly, so he was airlifted from Truro to the IWK.
After arriving at the IWK’s emergency department, Jonas was immediately taken for medical tests, including bloodwork, urine and stool samples, and an ultrasound. Within hours, Heather and Jeremy learned Jonas had contracted an E. coli infection, which caused Jonas to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare and serious kidney condition.
HUS is considered a medical emergency because it can cause life-threatening complications, including stroke or seizures, heart problems, kidney failure, and even death.
For Jonas, HUS caused him to go into kidney failure, which was a shock to his parents. Jonas needed emergency surgery to have a dialysis line inserted into a large vein in his neck. Dialysis is a type of treatment that helps the body remove extra fluid and waste products from the blood when the kidneys are not able to.
Jonas was an inpatient at the IWK for three months, receiving dialysis daily before he was well enough to return home in late December 2019.
Although Jonas’ kidney function had improved, he had to take many medications and follow a strict diet to keep his kidneys healthy. His parents knew he would need a kidney transplant when he was a little bit older.
Sadly, in April 2024, Jonas needed to be airlifted to the IWK again after becoming very sick. He had contracted a virus that affected his kidneys. Jonas’ parents never expected to relive one of the toughest times in their lives.
Jonas was admitted to the IWK for a second time and placed on dialysis again. He needed to go on the kidney transplant list right away. Thankfully, one month later, Heather received the call that would save her son’s life. A kidney became available for Jonas. It was a moment she’ll never forget.
Jonas is now eight years old and thriving since receiving his new kidney. Thanks to the incredible care at the IWK, Jonas is back home in PEI and enjoys swimming, hiking and making his family laugh.
The IWK urgently needs to replace their fleet of anesthesia machines so children like Jonas needing surgery can be safely put to sleep and their vitals, such as heart rate and blood pressure, carefully watched during a procedure.
We need your help. We cannot do it alone. Please make a gift before December 31st to help us purchase the anesthesia machines the IWK immediately needs.
