Richmond's Nicholas Morin rolls up his sleeves and shows off his "battle wounds."
The Grade 12 McNeill student's arm is a road map of needle tracks from years spent on kidney dialysis.
Nicholas has undergone two kidney transplants, years of dialysis and several bouts of pneumonia and other illnesses.
He is 17 years old. "Before Nick was delivered I knew there was a problem with his kidneys," said his mother Debbie Morin.
During an ultrasound, Morin was told her unborn child had a congenital defect - his urine tube was backwards.
"He wasn't gaining weight so the doctors delivered Nick eight weeks early .. He weighed only two pounds," she added.
Nicholas was born with one malfunctioning kidney and another which was weak. By the age of two, he was on dialysis.
By three, he underwent his first kidney transplant.
"Before his transplant, Nick had a central line in his chest," said Morin. "Three days a week, for four hours each session, he was on dialysis. For three years while he had the central line, I couldn't bathe him and he couldn't go swimming.
"Because he was so small, the kidney was transplanted in his stomach," she added.
His first transplant lasted five years.
During the fourth year, an ultrasound revealed that a tumour, thought to be cancerous, was growing on his transplanted kidney.
"Because the tumour was so deep in the kidney, the doctors had to remove the kidney," said Morin.
Then, because his own kidney was also weak, the doctors chose to remove them both.
Nick, by now seven, was back on dialysis and back on the organ transplant waitlist.
"Nick was extremely sick and he suffered horrible infections," added Morin. "Most of the time, he was in hospital.. It was an incredibly difficult time.
When Nicholas is asked about dialysis, he shrugged and said quietly: "It's painful when they first insert the needle and then it's boring because for four hours you can't use your arms."
Organ transplants take their toll on the whole family. Morin needed to be home for her older son, Jason, now 22, yet she was spending much of her time at Children's Hospital. Originally, the family lived in Abbostford, but because of the frequent trips to Children's Hospital, Morin moved to Richmond 10 years ago.
Five years ago, Nicholas received his second kidney.
"It's working really well," said Morin. "If we are lucky, his kidney will last up to 15 years, typically they last 10 years."
However, kidney transplants and dialysis are not cures. They are only treatments - treatments that keep Nicholas alive.
That's why Morin will be taking part in the inaugural COTS (Children's Organ Transplant Society) Walk and Fun Run on Sunday to raise awareness and funds for kidney transplant recipients and their families.
"COTS is an amazing organization," Morin said, adding Nicholas takes antirejection drugs twice a day. "They bring together transplant kids and families for picnics, Christmas parties and golf tournaments.
"Nick doesn't feel alone because all the other teens know exactly what he has gone through, and we parents get to talk about our experiences .. It's a real happy time."
Today, Nicholas is the picture of health, however, the teen will never be able to play contact sports and he is susceptible to a host of illnesses.
"I remember wishing I could play basketball or hockey or roughhouse with my brother when I was younger," said Nicholas, who loves to draw and write.
Although he can't play hockey, Nicholas is a huge hockey fan and has attended a couple of Canucks games.
On October 9, Nicholas and his mom are heading to Disneyworld in Florida, thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"I'm looking forward to going on the rides, swimming and just getting away," said Nicholas.
Morin hopes the trip "allows Nick to have fun
and forget about his health issues, at least for a week."
"His first Make-A-Wish was to Disneyland when he was eight, but he was so sick, much of the time he was sleeping or in bed," said Morin.
As far as what he'd like to do once he graduates next year, Nicholas said he'd like to study law.
Meanwhile, join
COTS (Children's Organ Transplant Society) for its inaugural Walk and Fun Run on Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Richmond Oval Plaza on the Fraser River.
You can walk, stroll or run the two or five kilometre non-competitive and flat route. To register, visit www.childrensots.org.
Registration fee is $10 for a child up to 18, and $20 for adults. There will be prizes for the top pledges collected and each participant will receive a reusable tote bag.
mhopkins@richmond-news.com
