Kody is a 14 year old boy who loves and used to live for soccer until the doctors told him that he couldn’t play anymore last summer. He loves God, animals, video games, sports, Knott’s Berry Farm, the beach and his family to name a few. He has been in the hospital for several months now with no expectation of getting out any time soon.
If anyone is a doctor, specialist, or knows of someone who may specialize or know of another case like Kody's, please put them in contact with us.
*Kody was born with a congenital heart condition (pulmonary stenosis). He underwent 2 heart surgeries when he was 8 years old. He experienced a side effect from one of the heart surgeries which caused a portal vein thrombosis (blockage in the portal vein into his liver) with portal venous transformation with secondary portal hypertension, which has caused hepatosplenomegaly and enlarged varices throughout his body including history of esophageal varices.
He was admitted into Loma Linda Children's Hospital on January 13, 2012 with presenting complaint: hypertension, bilateral pleural effusions, and edema. He has underwent many procedures and surgeries regarding the pleural effusions. The pleural fluid has never tested positive for chyle but has been treated as if it was chyle. It is evident now that the fluid was not coming from/or not only coming from the lymphatic duct. Since the last surgery (VATS Pleuradesis), the fluid has again began pooling in other areas throughout his body. He is leaking protein somewhere in his body which is causing the fluid to leak and causes severe edema. He was transferred by helicopter to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles on March 29, 2012. No one has been able to find a diagnosis and treatment for Kody. We need everyone’s help to get the word out because maybe somebody somewhere knows what will help cure him.