Mikey Howard

Hope for MIKEY

A KIDNEY “KRUSADER”

Apatient 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

full-fledged, state-of-the-art children’s hospital. Mikey was just five years old when Levine Children’s Hospital opened its doors in 2007, and he had just undergone his first kidney transplant [from his father]. Later, Mikey would receive a second kidney transplant from his uncle in 2015. To this day, our family celebrates May 7 and February 4 – the dates Mikey received his kidney transplants and was given back his life.

AHF: What are your hopes for Mikey as it relates to Atrium Health’s ongoing support of his health?

Jennifer: Our hope is that Mikey continues to get the exceptional care he’s always received at Levine Children’s, even as he transitions to physicians who specialize in treating adults with kidney disease. Whenever we’ve needed collaboration between physicians across Atrium Health, it’s always been seamless.

AHF: Mikey, please tell us a little about yourself.

Mikey: I’m 19, and I’m a senior at Marvin Ridge High School. I Iike to sing in chorus, take guitar lessons, enjoy video games, and I currently work at AutoBell car wash. I really like sports, and my parents take me to all the Carolina Panthers home games. I’ve gone to some Hornets games too, and I’m going to sit courtside at the Hornets vs Lakers game with my uncle who gave me his kidney. I also enjoy working out at Lifetime Fitness in Waverly.

AHF: Can you describe what it is like to be a patient at Levine Children’s?

Mikey: Even when I’ve been too sick to do much more than stay in my hospital bed, the Child Life team always makes me feel better by bringing me video games, and sometimes I go to the teen lounge and use the virtual reality headset, which is pretty cool. It’s especially good that there’s a Chick-Fil-A in the hospital. They also keep Goldfish, my favorite snack, in the family rooms.

AHF: Growing up with a chronic kidney disease, did you experience things differently?

Mikey: I have missed a lot of school over the years due to the many days I spent in the hospital, but I’ve had some unique experiences as a result. I think it’s cool when athletes and celebrities visit kids in the hospital. Everyone knows I’m a big Panthers fan, so I’ve been able to meet lots of the players over the years. Levine Children’s made that happen for me and many other patients. Greg Olsen invited me to spring training camp when I was about 10, where he took me around and introduced me to all the players, including Cam Newton and Steve Smith.

AHF: Jennifer and Mike, why did you decide to make this generous gift to Levine Children’s?

Jennifer: We’ve been serving on a committee that Dr. Massengill formed six years ago for Levine Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Nephrology Center of Excellence, so we have a solid understanding of her vision to advance research, perform clinical trials, identify best practices, improve outcomes for young patients, and share findings within the medical community. It has always been a hope, dream, and prayer of ours to do something meaningful that we know will make an impact on the lives of others who are fighting Mikey’s fight. We’ve always had the utmost trust and confidence in Dr. Massengill, and we want to help her pursue her passion and ultimately improve the way chronic kidney disease is treated. She’s extremely driven, and we know she’ll put our gift to good use.

(L-R) Dr. Megan Yankik, Dr. Susan Massengill, Mikey Howard, Jennifer Howard, Mike Howard, and Dr. Jack Weaver