In 2003, Anne Hart was 20 weeks pregnant when she found out that her pregnancy was at risk, and that if she was able to carry her baby to term, he would have underdeveloped kidneys and lungs that would make his start in life an intense experience. After he was born, Nathan Hart spent over a month in the natal intensive care unit (NICU). He started dialysis the following January and received treatment for the next year and a half.
Anne recalls that Nathan was very sick during that time. He didn’t have enough energy to move around, and his bones were brittle, which made them more likely to fracture. In 2006, Anne donated her kidney to Nathan, who was 2 years old. Just a few days after his transplant, Nathan wasn’t only moving on his own, but running around. “He was talking up a storm,” Anne remembers. “He ate solid food and always had an appetite.”
Nathan has had his mother’s kidney ever since. At first, he was hesitant to talk about his health journey. But in recent years, Nathan has gotten involved in advocacy and awareness efforts for other youth in similar situations. He participated in the Transplant Games of America in 2016 and 2018, and he was invited to speak on the radio for ESPN to raise kidney health awareness. Nathan also spoke on the YNott? Inspire Show to advocate for transplants and organ donation. He cohosted with Edward Drake and invited guests—from athletes to entrepreneurs—to talk about their own trials and triumphs. The show aimed to inspire children with challenging health conditions.
Additionally, Nathan spoke on an NKF The Big Ask, The Big Give panel about how families can support their loved ones with kidney disease.
Throughout Nathan’s young life, Anne worked tirelessly to ensure her son got the attention and support he needed from his care team. “When you have a child who’s chronically ill […], you have to make sure you’re their voice,” Anne says. “You have to advocate for them.” Now that he’s in college, Nathan is becoming his own advocate. Anne knows it’s not the easiest transition to add to the typical adjustments to college life, but she trusts that she’s instilled a strong sense of responsibility in her son, and the need to speak up for his own well-being.
Nathan feels that his experiences have made him a stronger person, and he wants to continue to share his story in his own words. There’s always a chance to live a healthy life with kidney disease, and it’s something Nathan is very grateful for.
Anne encourages people with kidney disease, or who are at risk of being diagnosed with kidney disease, to be open-minded, ask plenty of questions, and to closely follow the advice of their care teams. “You have good days and bad days, but the good will outweigh the bad. Take your medicine, drink lots of water, try to live one day at a time.”
She also emphasizes the importance of looking at things through a more positive lens, and the difference that can make. “There’s so much benefit to having a second chance at life.”