Boy, 17, hopes to beat kidney disease but requires assistance  

Orandie Geness was three-years-old when he was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a condition that causes the kidneys to leak large amounts of protein into the urine. This can lead to a range of problems, including swelling of body tissues.

Now 17, the boy continues to live with the condition but two years ago he was told by doctors that he was doing well and will no longer be required to attend the clinic.

However, in July this year, the young man started experiencing dizziness and was later diagnosed with end-stage renal failure.

He is now seeking the public’s assistance to get a transplant done and to help offset the cost of his dialysis treatment.

“When I was three I was diagnosed with the sickness, they kept me in a clinic until I was 15 and then they discharged me and told me everything was okay, and then earlier this year, I started to get some headaches and dizziness,” Orandie told the News Room.

His mother, Barbara Geness believes that if he had continued attending the clinic maybe the doctors would have picked up on his kidney failure. The woman said her son spent one month hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital before he was diagnosed with kidney failure.

“He was hospitalised one month and still they didn’t tell us wah happen to he, then the doctor meet with my daughter and son-in-law and said this child get kidney failure in both kidneys,” the distraught woman said.

In early July, Orandie was at work when he complained of feeling lightheaded. The young man from Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara was employed at a local pharmacy after he completed his secondary education last year.

“He went to work one day and around midday, he called us and said he wasn’t feeling well,” Barbara explained. She recalled that after he got home that day his condition worsened and so they took him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“We see the doctor and they said he would have to rest and that he had to get blood.”

While in the emergency room, Barbara said her son then started to lose his memory. He could not remember his family and then he started complaining that he was unable to see anything.

“He said he didn’t know any of us and was asking ‘where is my mother?'”

Barbara said he remained in this state for about three days before he returned to his normal self.

Over the years he suffered from swelling in his abdomen, low and high blood pressure and dizziness.

“Any and all places, I cannot go, when the sun is hot I cannot go outside because I feel really bad, dizziness and lightheadedness so mostly I just go for treatment,” Orandie said.

He explained that he spends his days now reading and had to quit his job.

He is one of three children and his older brother is currently being tested to see whether he is a match to donate a kidney.

Orandie now requires dialysis twice weekly.

He said he keeping “faith in God” and believes everything will be alright.