‘When I am in pain, I start making something and it takes my mind off it’
SUMMER Kansirary knows the inside of a hospital more than most teenagers – she’s spent much of her life in and out of them.
She was just 14 months old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 Nephroblastoma (Wilm’s tumour), an extremely rare illness that is a type of cancer.
Summer, now aged 13, started hemodialysis for her kidneys, and needed multiple tubes inserted into her veins to clean her blood.
Then, in 2012, she had to have her first kidney transplant. It was a major operation and Summer had to be placed in intensive care in a medically-induced coma for 10 days while her kidney was trying to work. She even named her kidney at the time, calling it “Sleepy April”.
All seemed to go well for a while. But in 2015, after returning from a holiday to Turkey, Summer received the devastating news that her kidney had rejected her body. The transplant had to be removed due to it causing too much trauma.
After four-and-a-half years on peritoneal dialysis and suffering severe discomfort, at 4.48am on August 4, 2020, she received the call she’d be waiting for. A kidney had been found, she called this one “Faith”.
The kidney transplant went ahead last year, and seven months on she is embracing the positive times over the bad.
Far from dwelling on her own circumstances, her time in and out of hospital has made her determined to help other children with chronic diseases.
Summer has been involved with Welsh charity Dreams & Wishes, which makes dreams come true for children. The teen, from Bridgend, has had several wishes granted over the years and, as a result, wanted to get involved to help the charity put smiles on the faces of other seriously ill children too.
She is now an ambassador for the charity and as well as revising for her exams, she has spent her free time making hand-made resin items to raise funds for the charity. Her business is called Summer’s Creations.
Her work with Dreams & Wishes is an important part of her positivity.
She said: “Through my own ongoing illnesses I can sympathise with how others feel and it gives me great joy in knowing I’m also helping people and bringing smiles onto their faces.
“I also want all the patients involved in Dreams & Wishes to know and understand that no matter what you can always achieve your dreams.
“Everyone at Dreams & Wishes are volunteers and all money raised goes straight into the charity, it is such an inspiration. I have had lots of wishes granted over the years: I went to Legoland with the charity and there was an amazing trip to the House of Commons.”
Since Dreams & Wishes began in 2011, it has been working with families across the UK, providing vital support throughout the child’s illness as well as helping to build happy memories by granting lifelong wishes.
Tony Curtis, from the charity, said: “I think she is an amazing young girl who has gone through so much and is so positive in her every day life. As a charity we are so proud of her being our young ambassador. She is a real inspiration to everyone who meets her.”
Summer added: “I love making the gifts. I started making them in my bedroom and it gives me a distraction. When I am in pain, I start making something and it takes my mind off it. It is also great that they are helping to put smiles on the faces of other children who are going through a hard time. I started it with my own pocket money, but am amazed to have raised £1,200.”