A 13-year-old Chilliwack boy recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease is looking for a donor.

Madden Wicker-Vriend has a 含羞草研究社渨hole plethora含羞草研究社� of health problems, most since birth, said mom Eryn Wicker-Vriend.

But despite all of his issues, they had never experienced a medical 含羞草研究社渃risis含羞草研究社� until his kidney failure, she said.

含羞草研究社淭he kidney issues are the ones that caught us the most off guard, or the most by surprise, because it was never even on the radar before.含羞草研究社�

He wasn含羞草研究社檛 even showing any symptoms.

It all started back at the beginning of January when Madden went for routine bloodwork. His creatinine levels were high, which was an indicator that his kidneys were not functioning properly.

含羞草研究社淭hey couldn含羞草研究社檛 really figure out why a kid his age, with no other markers of kidney problem, would have this high creatinine,含羞草研究社� Eryn said.

By the end of January he was told he had chronic kidney disease. In February, he had a biopsy done where doctors were looking for either scarring or broken down tubules. When they went to hear the results, Eryn could tell by the faces of the medical professionals in the room that it was not good news.

含羞草研究社淗e doesn含羞草研究社檛 have either of those things that we know of because the damage is so extensive and so advanced we can含羞草研究社檛 even pinpoint what caused it,含羞草研究社� she recalled the doctor saying.

The medical team said they had never seen a case like Madden含羞草研究社檚 before.

Over the course of about two months, Madden含羞草研究社檚 diet and medications changed and his kidney function dropped to about four per cent. He was put on a transplant list and was told he might have to have dialysis down the road.

含羞草研究社淲hen we saw them in April, (they said) 含羞草研究社榃e need to refer you to the dialysis team now or we含羞草研究社檙e not going to make it to transplant before you start dialysis.含羞草研究社櫤�羞草研究社�

Madden had catheter put in on May 10 and his mom and dad, Jesse, took training for two weeks to learn how to administer dialysis at home.

He started dialysis at BC Children含羞草研究社檚 Hospital on May 18 while his parents were completing the training. Now dialysis is done at home from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every single night.

Born prematurely with restricted growth, Madden was diagnosed with a lung disease, endocrine disorder, esophageal motility disease, among others. More recently, he has been diagnosed with MIRAGE syndrome, a rare and spontaneous genetic disorder discovered and named in 2016. This led to the addition of hematology and immunology clinics.

He is followed by eight different clinics at Children含羞草研究社檚 and has spent hundreds of days there as an outpatient and inpatient. He has had countless procedures and surgeries and is on multiple medications and therapies.

含羞草研究社淏ut he has approached every health obstacle with a smile, and positive and laid back attitude,含羞草研究社� Eryn said. 含羞草研究社淢adden is so compliant and so agreeable to everything single thing we ask him to do. He doesn含羞草研究社檛 fight, he never says 含羞草研究社榥o.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淗e has a huge personality in a very small frame,含羞草研究社� she added. 含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 funny, exuberant, and brings a smile to all those who know him.含羞草研究社�

Now they are on the hunt for a living donor.

Eryn, whose blood type is A like Madden含羞草研究社檚, is in the process of determining whether she can donate one of her kidneys to her son. But, the family is putting the call out for others to do the same to better their chances.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e looking for a donor. (Madden) can only have an adult kidney because you have to be the age of consent to be a donor.含羞草研究社�

People must be at least 19 years of age.

Although he just turned 13, Madden is the size of an average seven-year-old, and yes, an adult kidney can fit into his body.

The doctors will leave the failing kidneys intact and put the new one down in his pelvis in the peritoneal cavity, Eryn explained.

含羞草研究社淐hildren get top of the list for deceased donors含羞草研究社� but we含羞草研究社檙e looking for a living donor because the outcomes are better with living donors.含羞草研究社�

It is a very complicated process to determine if someone is a match. The first step is to email donornurse@providencehealth.bc.ca. Folks will be required to fill out several forms on their health history and have bloodwork done.

It takes about four to six months for the workup where the donor to gets their kidney prepared and into the best possible health for the patient. The person might get declined at any point along the way.

Despite everything Madden has been through, he still goes to school 含羞草研究社� he含羞草研究社檚 in Grade 7 at Vedder Middle School 含羞草研究社� and stays active.

含羞草研究社淚 like to do video games, play outside, play Lego, play sports outside of school (like) baseball and hockey,含羞草研究社� he said.

He also likes art and reading and playing with his siblings Lexi, 12, Grayson, 10, and Hudson, 6.

And his favourite thing at school?

含羞草研究社淩ecess and lunch含羞草研究社� and leaving,含羞草研究社� Madden said with a smile.

Because of all of the medical appointments 含羞草研究社� both for Madden and Eryn while she does the workup for potentially becoming a donor 含羞草研究社� and travel to and from Children含羞草研究社檚, money has been tight and will be even tighter after his transplant.

Their friend started a GoFundMe to help with expenses. They said they are grateful for all the support from family and friends.

For more on the living kidney donor program, email donornurse@providencehealth.bc.ca or go to .

To donate to the GoFundMe, go to .