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36 • Spring 2018 “I thank God every day when we wake up and he’s alive and we can see him for one more day.”
One in every 1,000 kids is diagnosed with this rare illness. “We were told by a kidney specialist that, at some point, he would have kidney failure, and that’s with taking medication to prevent it. They said he would be 25 or 30 years old,” explained Jennifer. “But on April 12, 2016, he had complete kidney failure. He was 11.” Matthew’s kidneys were removed later that August. But by the following May, he began to experience heart failure as well. That’s when he was transported by helicopter from Jackson to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham where he could get the best treatment and care for all of the different issues he is facing. Matthew started out on dialysis seven days a week for seven hours a day. Soon, doctors decided to drop him down to six days a week for only five hours. “We go to the hospital and then we come home because he is completely wiped out from treatment. Doing dialysis is like running a marathon,” said Jennifer. Matthew is now on the kidney transplant list, waiting for a matching donor to become available. “It had already been decided that he would have a transplant at Children’s of Alabama because the success rate is high there. He needs kidneys and a liver, not just kidneys. It makes it a little more intense.” Being separated from each other has been hard for the Bargender family, but David has had to stay living in Brandon to be close to his work in Forest and to keep the kids in their school district. Jennifer and Matthew have been staying in an apartment in Hoover just outside of Birmingham so that the hospital is never far away. The family makes a point to visit Jennifer and Matthew in Alabama as much as possible, because every minute they have together is a treasured gift. “Honestly, it’s day to day with him,” said Jennifer in a hushed tone. “I thank God every day when we wake up and he’s alive and that we can see him for one more day.” While Matthew continues his education through homebound services with the Rankin County School District and does what he can to maintain a semblance of an average childhood, he still has a tough road ahead of him. He misses his friends, his school, and tries to distract himself with an interest in history and obsession with the music of Broadway’s hit musical Hamilton. With the unconditional love and supportive prayers of his big family and all those who know and love him in his school, community, and beyond, he keeps fighting to overcome every obstacle he encounters. ● Hometown Brandon • 37
Page 1 and 2: volume 5 number 1 Spring 2018 ES RS
Page 3 and 4: PUBLISHER & EDITOR Tahya Dobbs CFO
Page 5 and 6: NEW! chicken sandwich Turn up the f
Page 7 and 8: “God had given us a second chance
Page 9 and 10: When thinking about treehouses, you
Page 11 and 12: Olivia Kate Moss My future self, be
Page 13 and 14: Hometown Brandon • 13
Page 15 and 16: The Imperial Mic Drops, coached by
Page 23 and 24: Brandon Amphitheater PRESS CONFEREN
Page 25 and 26: Crafting His Own Career Abigail Wal
Page 27 and 28: “ Anyone can do what they want if
Page 35: THE FIGHT TO OVERCOME Do you rememb
Page 39 and 40: ServingOUR Community How long have
Page 41 and 42: Fit for a Princess Every year the C
Page 43 and 44: Hannah Wiindham Brandon Elementary
Page 45 and 46: Jaida Kelly Brandon Elementary Esco
Page 51 and 52: Investing is about more than money.
Page 57 and 58: PROJECT Way Lead the Mary Dunaway B
Page 59 and 60: Wilderness Time You Are Invited H
Page 61 and 62: “Just living is not enough,” on
Page 63 and 64: What are the words you would use to
Page 65 and 66: A cutting-edge bank makes your day
Page 67 and 68: 2018 1898 8 2018 1898 1898 2018 201

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