Organ donors needed

Dear editor:

Most people don’t understand or care about the importance of organ donation until it is someone in their family who needs an organ.

Jayden Jon-Trey Freeman was born Jan. 27, 2010, with gastroschisis, which is a birth defect of the abdominal (belly) wall. The baby’s intestines are found outside of the baby’s body, exiting through a hole beside the belly button. Jayden spent the first couple months of his life at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

When he was almost 2, he was diagnosed with a kidney disease that would gradually ruin his kidneys. This year, Jayden was placed on dialysis and travels to Little Rock with his dad three days a week. On May 29, both of his kidneys were removed due to the fact that they were no longer functioning organs and scar tissue from his gastroschisis surgery eight years ago were removed.

Jayden is now in need of a kidney desperately.

When he had to have the port placed for dialysis and the lines were hanging down, I tried to cheer him up by saying, “Now you can be Super Robot Jayden.” He looked at me forlornly and said, “I just want to be normal Jayden.”

Jayden goes to school at Langston Elementary, he loves his cousins and he loves to ride his bike and skateboard. His young life has been filled with trips to the doctors, needles and disappointing news. Through all of this, he has a strong spirit, loves life and just wants to live a normal life.

The next time you have an opportunity to become an organ donor, think about if it was your family member in need.

Bertha Freeman Hot Springs