Kid helps out kid

Nine-year-old Charlotte Hoareau is doing all she can to help little Levi Walters. 160777_01 Picture: ALANA MITCHELSON

By Alana Mitchelson

KOOWEERUP’S Levi Walters is two months shy of his second birthday and he is already facing a second kidney operation.
Diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome at just four weeks old, Levi’s kidneys were found to leak protein.
He has had 12 hours of dialysis treatment every night since June and prior to that, was in and out of hospital every week for a protein infusion.
Levi now requires a kidney transplant.
His mother Alice Woods-Barnard will donate one of her kidneys next year.
When Levi requires another kidney transplant, his father has also been tested as a donor match.
“A kidney transplant is a treatment option but there is no cure,” Alice said.
“The average lifespan of a donated organ is about seven to 10 years. It might last 30 years or it could fail, regardless of how good a match the donor is. We just don’t know.
“Before Levi was diagnosed he started swelling up in the face and around his eyes. At first we thought he might have an allergy.
“I had never heard of the genetic condition, and we discovered that both myself and my husband carried the gene.”
Alice was told that her and Levi would need three months’ recovery time after surgery, during which time her husband planned to take time off work to “play nurse”.
“So we won’t have any income for those three months,” she said.
“And for the first month Levi needs to have a blood test every day to check his kidney’s functioning correctly.
“During that time, we’ve still got to pay the bills, mortgage payments and petrol for all the trips to and from the hospital.”
To help support Levi and to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation, Pakenham nine-year-old Charlotte Hoareau has taken it upon herself to raise funds for her family friends.
With much support from local businesses and community groups, Charlotte has organised a trivia fund-raising night, complete with donated auction and raffle prizes.
“There’s about $2000 worth of prizes,” the nine-year-old said.
“Lots of businesses have helped and we’ve already booked four tables. I’m excited that there will be a Harry Potter question in the trivia.
“I turn 10 the day after the trivia night so it will be a special birthday, to be able to help Levi at the same time.”
A signed Living End band poster, pizza vouchers, a Swarovski jewellery piece and weekend accommodation are among the many prizes up for grabs.
The trivia night is at 7.30pm on Saturday 12 November at the Nar Nar Goon Cricket Club, priced at $10 per head with a maximum of 10 per table.
For more information, visit chuffed.org/project/love-for-little-levi and the Trivia Night For Little Levi Facebook event.
Donations can be made to the bank account C K Hoareau, BSB 633-000, account number 158618629.
To follow Levi’s journey, visit www.facebook.com/ljwjourney.