Brandon318web

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