NORTH AUGUSTA, SC. () – A local family needs your help after one of their 9-month-old twins was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease. 

“They put in a dialysis catheter like two days after he was born. But it was able to come out eventually, and he hasn’t needed dialysis yet. But we are at the point where he will need a transplant to live,” said Auburn Johnson, Mother.

9-month-old Theo Johnson has a rare condition called Posterior Urethral Valves and is looking for a kidney for a transplant. Theo’s Mother, Auburn, is unable to donate because she was diagnosed with Pre-Eclampsia before he was born. The family has lost track of how many surgeries he has had since birth.

“We were misdiagnosed, so we were completely blindsided when he was born. I mean, we had just relaxed thinking everything was going to be okay, and then, you know, no idea what was coming,” said Johnson.

Theo was only able to spend one day with his twin brother before he was sent to the NICU for 41 days and was unable to meet his older sister Aria until he was released. 

“They were in separate incubators, and we just asked before he was transferred if they could just be together for a little while, and I’m so glad we did because we had no idea how long he was going to be in the hospital,” said Johnson.

He is about to start growth hormones so his body can fit an adult kidney. He is also in physical therapy and has less than 10 percent kidney function.

“Every week when we get labs done, it’s a waiting game. Is he going to have to start dialysis this time?” said Johnson.

He has already defied the odds by not needing dialysis, which the doctors expected initially. 

“He defied odds being here, has defied odds through every procedure. He’s never come out of any surgery without being who he is right now, I mean he is just the most resilient,” said Marcus Johnson, Father.

They are looking for someone with either O-positive or O-negative blood, and are thankful for all the doctors and nurses who have helped them through this time.

If you can help Theo, find a donor, contact their transplant coordinator, Kate Hefner, at 706-721-3773 or Kathryn.hefner@wellstar.org. If you want to keep up with him, you can find him on their Facebook page.