Couple forms nonprofit as they fight kidney disease

Brittany Hoots is wise and mature beyond her 28 years.

The elder of two sisters, Hoots grew up in Tampa, Fla. She met the love of her life, Adam, while attending the University of South Florida, and the two married soon after graduation.

Adam’s growing career as a project manager took the couple and their twin baby daughters, Jacie and Lily, across the U.S.

“We lived in Florida, California, and Colorado, before moving to Charlotte last spring,” Hoots said. “We’re settled in now and are very happy here.”

The twins are now in kindergarten at Endhaven Elementary, and 16-month-old brother, Kaiston, goes to home daycare twice a week. “I work part time at L.A. East Boutique in Blakeney, and am an independent distributor for AdvoCare Health and Wellness,” said the busy mother.

When Hoots’ husband was 17, he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease.

“Adam now needs a kidney transplant. We’re very fortunate because Adam’s brother, Arron, 24, is a perfect match, and is willing to donate a kidney to his brother,” Hoots said.

While Adam’s disease was being treated the past several years, the couple learned a lot about polycystic kidney disease, and especially how it relates to children. Most insurance companies will pay for the transplant surgery, but not for the follow up anti-rejection medications. Those mediations are taken for the rest of the recipient’s life after the transplant, and the costs can run into the thousands of dollars.

The Hoots have seen children whose families don’t have enough money for follow up medication. The children receive dialysis several times until their bodies are no longer able to handle the treatment. These children often die either before a match is found, or they are able to obtain funding.

“We couldn’t stand it to see these children suffer through dialysis and not be able to receive a transplant,” Hoots said. “So we started a nonprofit organization to help underprivileged children afford the transplants and resulting lifetime medications. We had our organization, www.Kidsney.org, set up professionally to both promote donors and to help fund children in need.”

Adam’s and Arron’s surgeries are scheduled for January and will be done at Carolinas Medical Center.

“My aunt will be coming to help me with the kids when Adam is in the hospital,” Hoots said. “We look forward to Adam finally being able to put stop dialysis and move on.”