One Child, Two Kidney Transplants, and the Family Who Made It Possible

Kelly gave birth to Rory in 2011. While he came five weeks early, there were no other indicators that something was amiss with his health. 

“I had low amniotic fluid, but he came home from the hospital without any major issues,” Kelly said. “But that first year, he failed to thrive.”

Rory had low muscle tone, struggled to gain weight, and had some other developmental delays. 

“We were on a journey trying to figure out why,” Kelly said. 

When Rory was about 15 months old, doctors checked his kidney function. 

“That’s when we found out he had kidney dysplasia,” said Kelly. “His kidneys didn’t develop properly in the womb.”

The diagnosis was life-changing, but it also gave Kelly and her husband, Freddy, a path forward. 

“We live in North New Jersey. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) had the best pediatric kidney disease care we could find,” Kelly said. “It’s a two-hour drive one way, but we’ve been there for 13 years and couldn’t be happier with our team.”

Learn more about kidney and urinary tract abnormalities in children.

When Rory was two, his uncle started the living kidney donor evaluation. 

“I was pregnant with the first of Rory’s two sisters. Freddy has a different blood type,” Kelly said. “At the time, we didn’t know about kidney donor swap programs.” 

And Rory’s uncle didn’t just pass the evaluation; he was also a great match for Rory. 

“He felt called to donate, and we’re forever grateful,” Kelly said. “The transplant surgery was a success for both of them. Rory’s uncle is still doing well. He and his wife have four kids now. He lives nearby, and we’re very close.”

After the transplant, Rory’s health improved quickly. He began to grow, gained strength, and caught up on developmental milestones.  

Learn more about making the decision to donate. 

For years after the transplant, kidney disease faded into the background.

“Issues started when Rory was 11. He developed colitis, inflammation in the intestines, from an immunosuppressant he took,” Kelly said. “He had to switch his medications and missed a lot of school.”

Unfortunately, this was just the first of many setbacks.

“Rory was in and out of school most of sixth and seventh grade,” said Kelly. “He was hospitalized with COVID-19 and the flu, which put further stress on his transplanted kidney and overall health.”

By the winter of seventh grade, Rory’s kidney failed. 

“We learned how to perform peritoneal dialysis (PD), a type of home dialysis that uses the lining of the abdomen to filter waste,” Kelly said. “This option was the least invasive to all of our children’s lives.”

Dialysis immediately helped Rory feel better. 

“That was the first step towards having our Rory back,” Kelly said. “It gave us the motivation to keep moving forward. 

Take our quick quiz to learn if home dialysis is right for you or your child. 

As Rory adjusted to dialysis, Kelly and Freddy began the donor evaluation process. 

Since neither is Rory’s match, they chose to go through the National Kidney Registry (NKR). NKR has a kidney exchange program that ‘swaps’ incompatible donor/recipient pairs. 

“I was approved on my birthday, August 15th, 2025, and donated a kidney three weeks later,” Kelly said. “We were prepared to wait a long time for Rory’s transplant since he is incompatible with most donors.”

But they got the call just one month later. 

“We learned he had a match in September 2025. It was mind-blowing,” Kelly said. “Rory’s kidney transplant took place soon after, on October 28th.”

The Cavins waited anxiously to see if Rory’s body would accept the kidney. As weeks passed and he continued to do well, they turned cautiously optimistic. 

“It’s been amazing to see him live life,” Kelly said. “After two years of pain, discomfort, and missing school, every day with him is a surprise.”

Learn about life after a kidney transplant.

Throughout it all, Kelly, Freddy, and their children were never alone.

“The other moms I made friends with gave my daughters rides, took them to activities, and had them over for sleepovers,” Kelly said. “They, along with my parents, helped make sure my girls’ lives weren’t disrupted more than they already were.”

When Rory had longer hospital stays, Kelly’s brother and sister-in-law took the girls. 

“While it was hard, my daughters were in the next best, most comfortable place,” Kelly said. “CHOP was also amazing at providing all of us mental health support.”

Because the Cavins were open about their kidney journey, the broader community also found ways to show up.

“Schools organized fundraisers. On the day of Rory’s surgery, kids across multiple schools wore green in support,” Kelly said. “People we didn’t know were stopping us, messaging us, telling us they were thinking of him.”

When they returned home from Rory’s second transplant, another surprise waited.

“There was a rock garden outside our house,” Kelly said. “Kids from all over town painted hundreds of rocks with inspiring messages and art for him. It was so special.”

That visibility created connections the family never expected.

“I’ve gotten messages from parents of kids at CHOP who saw his story online,” said Kelly. “Knowing how many people are behind us and that we could inspire or help someone else helped us through the hardest times.”

For parents earlier in their kidney journey, Kelly encourages them to hold on to hope. 

“The process can feel overwhelming, but there is also so much freedom on the other side,” Kelly said. “After such a daunting road, Rory is really living again. It is a reminder to hold on to hope during your most difficult moments.”

Connect with other parents of children with kidney disease. 

You and your family don’t have to navigate kidney disease alone. Whether you’re exploring kidney donation, managing care, or raising awareness, NKF is here to put support and community within reach.

• NKF Peers for Living Donors: Connect with a qualified peer living kidney donor mentor to learn more about the experience. 
• NKF Cares: Call 855.653.2273 toll-free to get your questions answered by a trained NKF professional. 
• Kidney Walk: Meet local kidney warriors while raising awareness and funds to help NKF improve kidney care for all. 
• Voices for Kidney Health: Help pass better kidney policies alongside other dedicated advocates.