Hope for
MIKEY A KIDNEY “KRUSADER”
A
patient of Levine Children’s since birth, Mikey Howard has grown up with his nephrology care team as a second family. Diagnosed in-utero with a
complex and rare kidney anomaly, Mikey’s chance for longterm survival was slim. His parents, Jennifer and Mike Howard, turned to Levine Children’s for his kidney care, where he’s received excellent care ever since. Today – more than 19 years, hundreds of nights spent at Levine Children’s, and two successful kidney transplants later – Mikey is thriving. A hallmark of Levine Children’s Medical Plaza is the outpatient center’s collaborative approach to care for patients with complex and chronic medical conditions. Early in Mikey’s treatment, Dr. Susan Massengill, director of the Levine Children’s Pediatric Nephrology Center of Excellence, and numerous subspecialists devised a plan to treat and mitigate the impact of Mikey's disease throughout his lifetime. “The Howards have shown unwavering confidence and support for the Pediatric Nephrology Division since we first met Mikey as a one-day-old infant,” shared Dr. Massengill. “Mikey embodies what it is to be a ‘KIDney Krusader’ – patient, strong, determined, a fighter, courageous, adaptable and forever hopeful.” In recognition of the lifesaving care Mikey has received at Levine Children’s, the Howard family recently donated $250,000 to benefit the Pediatric Nephrology Center of Excellence. Mikey and his mom recently shared more about their family’s journey at Levine Children’s and the meaning behind their gift: Atrium Health Foundation (AHF): Jennifer, you and Mike have known Dr. Massengill since Mikey was an infant. How has that relationship impacted your family? Jennifer: Establishing trust and keeping an open dialogue with your physician is paramount when raising a child with a chronic illness. Dr. Massengill has a unique approach that’s smart, holistic, collaborative and caring. It’s not uncommon for Dr. Massengill to spend extra time with Mikey in the clinic to ask about his grades or to ensure he knows his medications and doses. She really understands the challenges of living with chronic kidney disease. She treats the patients – not just the disease. AHF: What major milestones has Mikey reached while at Levine Children’s? Jennifer: We’ve experienced so many over the years, but it was a dream come true to transition from what used to be Carolinas Medical Center’s over-crowded pediatric floor to a
26
MOMENTUM
•
SPRING 2022
|
A T R I U M H E A LT H F O U N D A T I O N
