KFDM | Southeast Texas 4-year-old with Stage 4 Kidney Disease needs living donor
by Kynedei Hobbs,
PURGER — A 4-year-old boy from Southeast Texas who loves Buzz Lightyear, Lego blocks and riding his four-wheeler is facing a life-altering fight far beyond his years.
Laytyn Callaway, of Spurger, is living with Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease and urgently needs a living kidney donor, his family said. Without a transplant, they say his future becomes much more uncertain.
At home, Laytyn’s days start like many children’s — but with a routine most never experience. “First thing we get up in the morning time, he has to take about 30 milliliters of medicine to start his day off… then he likes his chocolate milk,” his mother, Tricia Callaway, said.
Laytyn was diagnosed with stage 4 chronic kidney disease as an infant. Tricia Callaway adopted him after caring for him since he was 4 months old. His family said he goes through monthly checkups and takes medication to keep his kidneys functioning long enough to avoid dialysis.
“People don’t see all the medical stuff that he has to go through… the doctor’s appointments, blood work… and it hurts to watch him like that,” Tricia Callaway said.
Doctors say Laytyn will eventually need both kidneys removed. Without a living donor, his family said he would spend months in Houston undergoing dialysis before he can even receive a transplant. His family said dialysis could mean missing school and losing the freedom to simply be a little boy while waiting for a kidney that may not come soon enough.
“The more that gets tested, the better chances we have of finding him a donor… and I’m hoping that’s what this brings… better chances for him… to live a normal life,” Tricia Callaway said.
To help find a donor, the nonprofit Kidneys for Communities partnered with National CineMedia to place Laytyn’s story on more than 18,500 movie screens in over 1,650 theaters nationwide before select movie showings. The effort is especially fitting for Laytyn, whose favorite movie is Toy Story.
His mother surprised him by letting him see his own story on the big screen before the movie began. “He’s going to love it… every day he asks me to watch his commercial… I can’t wait to see his face,” she said.
More than 100,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant. Laytyn’s family hopes that among the thousands of people who see his story, one person could be the match that gives him the chance to grow up.
His family said they are not asking everyone to become a donor, but they are asking people to learn whether they can. Information on how to become a living kidney donor here.