Vidant Health’s youngest transplant patient celebrates second birthday | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    GREENVILLE     The Nahrebeckis are celebrating a birthday today they never thought would come. Their two-year-old son, Austin, was born with a blockage in his kidneys, and he needed a transplant.

    Austin was just nineteen months old when he received a kidney transplant at Vidant Medical Center. "To have a transplant patient this young is very rare," said Dr. Guillermo Hidalgo, associate professor and section head for pediatric nephrology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. "It's rare not only getting the patient to the operating table but to also have a successful surgery."

    It's been an uphill battle for the Kinston family since the day Austin was born. The now two-year-old underwent a number of procedures to prepare him for the transplant surgery. For Austin to have the best chance at surviving the surgery, Dr. Hidalgo said a living donor was the best option because the organ would last longer. His team of physicians says Austin is alive today because of his mother, Rebecca Nahrebecki, who gave one of her kidneys to save her son.

    Rebecca worked hard to be a healthy donor for her son, which meant losing 30 pounds. "We had to support Rebecca and get her to do what she needed to do to be a good donor and a safe donor," said Dr. Claire Morgan, assistant professor for surgical immunology and transplantation, Brody School of Medicine at ECU. "We don't want to risk the safety and health of the donor to take care of the recipient."

    Transplant surgeries are unique in that there are two patients to care for, and for that reason communication is critical. "What really went well, with this procedure, was very good communication between all of the caregivers," said Dr. Robert Harland, professor and chief for surgical immunology and transplantation, Brody School of Medicine at ECU. "We all had to be saying the same thing and get all of the moving parts to fall together when it came to treating both Austin and his mom."

    While Austin's surgery was successful, he has to take medication every day to stay healthy. "We are just an instrument," said Dr. Hidalgo. "The delivery of care on a daily basis is the real factor that's gotten Austin to where he is today, and that's because of the dedication from his parents."

    Austin's family spent countless days at the hospital over the last two years while Austin received treatment. While no parent wants to see their child go through what Austin experienced, his parents say, "we wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else but Vidant."

    "The hospital and doctors bent over backwards to help us," said Austin's dad, Charles.

    "I completely recommend this nephrology team," added Rebecca. "If you ever have a pediatric kidney problem, you want to come here, they are awesome."

    The positive effects of the surgery were immediately noticeable. "He's just like a whole different kid now," said Rebecca. "He's doing things he never used to do; eating, walking, and talking."

    Rebecca said she never thought the day would come when Austin would be a "normal" kid. If they could give any words of wisdom to other families going through a similar experience, the Nahrebeckis say, "It gets better, but it takes time, you can't rush it. You have to take it day by day."

    Austin has a long road ahead of him, but his prognosis is great.

    Nahrebeckis are celebrating Austin's second birthday by sharing their story at the Annual Transplant Symposium at the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU. The symposium, being held today (Oct. 7) from 3-8 p.m., is a chance for patients to talk about their experience so caregivers can learn from the treatment and improve care for future patients.     Contact: Amy Holcombe, Vidant Health Corporate Communications, amy.holcombe@vidanthealth.com or 252-847-2725

    Vidant Health's youngest transplant patient celebrates second birthday

    GREENVILLE- The Nahrebeckis are celebrating a birthday today they never thought would come. Their two-year-old son, Austin, was born with a blockage in his kidneys, and he needed a transplant.

    Austin was just nineteen months old when he received a kidney transplant at Vidant Medical Center. "To have a transplant patient this young is very rare," said Dr. Guillermo Hidalgo, associate professor and section head for pediatric nephrology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. "It's rare not only getting the patient to the operating table but to also have a successful surgery."

    It's been an uphill battle for the Kinston family since the day Austin was born. The now two-year-old underwent a number of procedures to prepare him for the transplant surgery. For Austin to have the best chance at surviving the surgery, Dr. Hidalgo said a living donor was the best option because the organ would last longer. His team of physicians says Austin is alive today because of his mother, Rebecca Nahrebecki, who gave one of her kidneys to save her son.

    Rebecca worked hard to be a healthy donor for her son, which meant losing 30 pounds. "We had to support Rebecca and get her to do what she needed to do to be a good donor and a safe donor," said Dr. Claire Morgan, assistant professor for surgical immunology and transplantation, Brody School of Medicine at ECU. "We don't want to risk the safety and health of the donor to take care of the recipient."

    Transplant surgeries are unique in that there are two patients to care for, and for that reason communication is critical. "What really went well, with this procedure, was very good communication between all of the caregivers," said Dr. Robert Harland, professor and chief for surgical immunology and transplantation, Brody School of Medicine at ECU. "We all had to be saying the same thing and get all of the moving parts to fall together when it came to treating both Austin and his mom."

    While Austin's surgery was successful, he has to take medication every day to stay healthy. "We are just an instrument," said Dr. Hidalgo. "The delivery of care on a daily basis is the real factor that's gotten Austin to where he is today, and that's because of the dedication from his parents."

    Austin's family spent countless days at the hospital over the last two years while Austin received treatment. While no parent wants to see their child go through what Austin experienced, his parents say, "we wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else but Vidant."

    "The hospital and doctors bent over backwards to help us," said Austin's dad, Charles.

    "I completely recommend this nephrology team," added Rebecca. "If you ever have a pediatric kidney problem, you want to come here, they are awesome."

    The positive effects of the surgery were immediately noticeable. "He's just like a whole different kid now," said Rebecca. "He's doing things he never used to do; eating, walking, and talking."

    Rebecca said she never thought the day would come when Austin would be a "normal" kid. If they could give any words of wisdom to other families going through a similar experience, the Nahrebeckis say, "It gets better, but it takes time, you can't rush it. You have to take it day by day."

    Austin has a long road ahead of him, but his prognosis is great.

    Nahrebeckis are celebrating Austin's second birthday by sharing their story at the Annual Transplant Symposium at the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU. The symposium, being held today (Oct. 7) from 3-8 p.m., is a chance for patients to talk about their experience so caregivers can learn from the treatment and improve care for future patients.

   Contact: Amy Holcombe, Vidant Health Corporate Communications,

     amy.holcombe@vidanthealth.com  •  (252) 847-2725