Amanda Stewart was normal, healthy, happy 7 year old little girl, who spent her days going to school, teasing and playing with her siblings: her identical twin sister, and 9 year old brother. This all changed in April of 2002. On April 1st, after the family's bout with the flu, Amanda was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome. Nephrotic Syndrome is a rare kidney disease that affects about 4 out of 100,000 children a year. No one really knows why these kids contact this disease, but they all typically respond to standard steroid therapy to put them into remission

Amanda did not prove to be typical. Her disease progressed from Minimal Change Disease to FSGS (Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis) the most sever form of Nephrotic Syndrome, within a six month period of time.   Amanda had to have both kidneys removed, then underwent a year and a half of dialysis. She received a successful kidney transplant in February of 2004, only to have her hope taken away, when the disease reoccurred the following day. After that, Amanda followed with two and a half years of Plasma Aphaeresis, and eventually ended up, back on dialysis.

Amanda's transplanted kidney needed to be removed in February 2007. The FSGS had created irreparable damage to the kidney, and it was no longer functioning.  In addition, the steroids Amanda took to prevent  kidney rejection, was also stunting her growth. She had not grown in three years time. She was eight inches shorter than her identical twin sister, with very little resemblance left between them.  When the transplanted kidney was removed, Amanda was able to resume her growth hormone shots, and is gaining progress.

 The last five and a half years, Amanda has had to endure the fight of her life, with much pain and discomfort. There were times when she thought she had no more fight left in her, but she did not give up.  It is our hope and prayer that a matching kidney donor would be found, and with using a different, medical protocol prior to transplant, that Amanda would be able to have victory over this tragedy, and her disease would not return again. We have faith, that if it be God's will, that Amanda will achieve a full remission from FSGS and begin the healing for her body and heart.

The family would like to express their appreciation for any and all of the help, support and prayers they have received from friends, family and complete strangers. They stated it has been the prayers of the many and the faceless that have carried them through now.

If you have any questions please e-mail info@amandas-story.com