Lupus Teenager Fights for a Kidney
Her story made waves across social media when the public learned of a fourteen-year-old student battling an incurable disease that has compromised her kidneys. Vicky Samos only discovered her condition two months ago, and it quickly affected her quality of life, as well as the lives of her loved ones. Now, an appeal is being made as her father has stepped up to do what is humanly possible to help his daughter. Sabreena Daly tells us more in this week’s look on the Bright Side.
Vicky Samos
Vicky Samos, Lupus Patient
“I enjoyed playing basketball even though I wasn’t good at it. I used to like hanging out with my friends at school. I enjoyed being on campus. Um, I also wanted to join the basketball team at SCA.”
Only two months ago, these were the only concerns of fourteen-year-old Vicky Samos. The second form student of St. Catherine Academy enjoys learning about science and aspires to be a pediatrician.
Vicky Samos
“I like science because when I grow up I want to be a pediatrician. So basically doctor include science in it, so I have to study science.”
Sabreena Daly
“Why do you want to be a pediatrician?”
Vicky Samos
“Because I love children.”
But in February, the worries of a young teenager turned into a concern of health. Samos’ body quickly began showing signs of ailment and her diagnosis would prove even grimmer.
Diego Samos
Diego Samos, Father
“She had nausea. She was getting very tired. So we, um, decided to take her to the clinic. Mm-hmm. And when she arrived at the clinic, they did her lab test and everything. In the evening, the doctor called her mom and told her that, um, have to take her for emergency, the emergency we need to take her to the emergency, um, center. They told us that she had, um, kidney failure. Mm-hmm. But they needed to find out what was causing the kidney failure, and that’s when I did more blood tests. It was sent to Guatemala and that’s when we discovered it was lupus.”
Sabreena
Sabreena Daly, Standup
Three days out of the week, Samos does dialysis treatment here at the Karl Heusner Memorial hospital. She’s the youngest patient that undergoes this three-hour process which relieves the kidney of the stress to simply function.
Vicky Samos
“I started dialysis in the beginning of February, as soon as the doctors knew that my kidney was failing. And it’s kinda hard because at first I wasn’t used to dialysis. But now my body got used to it. At first I had really bad effects, like I vomited and then I even got to the point that I started to get panic attacks. Right now when I finish dialysis, I just get a bit dizzy and really hungry.”
The kidneys function to remove waste and fluids from the body, failure to do so leads to dependence on a dialyzer. Dialysis removes toxins from the blood to aid the dysfunctional organ. Without this process, the reality is terminal but the alternative is transplanting a fully functional organ, one that Samos’ father has volunteered to provide.
Vicky Samos
“Well, when I get the kidney transplant, I won’t be doing dialysis again, so that’s why we are trying to get the Kidney as soon as possible and my father will be the donor maybe if he’s compatible with me.”
Diego Samos
“She’s my only child. I have so much love for her, you know, I’m willing to give up everything for her. So I’m, I have decided to, if I’m compatible when we run the test and everything to provide her with a kidney so she can live a good life.”
In the span of four weeks, the Samos family has made appeals to the public to garner funds for Vicky’s kidney transplant. They were moved by the outpouring of support from the Kidney Association, the business community and strangers who have donated to the cause.
Diego Samos
“So we’re doing a lot of stuff so we can get our funds, you know.”
Sabreena Daly
“And all of this is in an effort to reuse funds for the transplant?”
Diego Samos
“For the transplant, yes. And her medical treatment also, because at the moment we have to buy a lot of medication which are very expensive.”
Vicky Samos
“I will be able to travel more often. Also, I will be able to go swimming. Mm-hmm. Um, Try out on the basketball team at SA and go fishing with my dad.”
Sabreena Daly
“You’ll also be with your friends on campus? “
Vicky Samos
“Yes, and also be on my friends on campus.”
Looking on the bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.
If you would like to donate to the Samos family, you can contact them via cell at 626 4851
