Wade Smith

Good morning, unfortunately Wade’s (we call him Wes) transplanted kidney is slowly failing. The doctors figure he has less than 3 years before he needs a new transplant. So we have started a new fundraising campaign for him through Help Hope Live again. HHL is incredible! Having gone through this once before, we know how difficult it is, we know how stressful it is, but we do it for the life and love of our son. Wes is such a special and wonderful guy we are blessed to have him in our lives. And therefore we are going through Help Hope Live again, because they really do help our hope live.

Wade Edward Sparrowhawk Smith, known by family and friends as Wes, is a wonderful, happy 16-year-old boy. Wes was born in April 2007 with the genetic disorder Williams Syndrome and without his right hand. At the age of three months, Wes had open heart surgery to enlarge his pulmonary arteries and repair a valve in his heart, this is a common complication with Williams Syndrome. Over the years Wes has struggled with various developmental delays and did not walk until just before his fourth birthday. Despite all of his challenges he has remained a shining light of joy to everyone who knows him. His upbeat personality, ready smile and infectious laugh have captivated all who know him.

In November of 2011, after a weekend visiting friends and horseback riding during Thanksgiving break, Wes was struck down by sudden onset kidney disease: Focal Segmented Glomerular Nephritis (FSGS), collapsing form. After years of treatments and despite repeated hospitalizations as well as outpatient treatments, Wes’ kidneys failed, and he went on dialysis. On November 3rd, 2015, he received a life saving kidney transplant from live donor Holly. An incredible young woman!!!

Unfortunately, Wes has had ups and downs along the way with several rejection episodes and bouts with immune suppression leading to viral flare ups of bugs that normally wouldn’t affect a healthy individual. As a result his transplanted kidney is failing. Holly’s kidney gave him 8 good years, and probably 21 – 2 more. We are forever grateful for her heartfelt donation of continuing life for our boy.
But he is going to need another kidney.

Even with insurance, Wes’ transplant and care is going to be extremely expensive. He has undergone the transplant at the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Along with the travel and relocation to be near the transplant center, there are also co-pays, deductibles, doctor visits, and the costly anti-rejection medications he will have to take for the rest of his life. All of this presents a challenge we cannot meet without your help.

In order to ease the financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Wes’ honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a non-profit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for over 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, are held by Help Hope Live in the Mid-Atlantic Transplant Fund and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider contributing. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Sincerely,
Mel Charlton-Smith (Wes’ mom)
Michael Smith (Wes’s dad)
304-563-6678/[email protected]