After a year of hospital treatment, 21-month-old Hadley Frusciante is finally home. On Friday, September 20, Hadley, her mother Lindsay, and grateful family members returned to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital to thank the team that turned Hadley’s life around.
Hadley was born with a congenital disorder that prevented her kidneys from developing properly. Hadley’s kidneys eventually failed and were removed in December of 2023. This led to Hadley enduring months of dialysis treatments at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital as the family awaited a donor match.
Finding a match for Hadley was challenging due to her size. Wishing to help her niece get the kidney she so desperately needed, Hadley’s aunt Kayla Mercado donated her own kidney into the National Kidney Registry. The hospital is an active member of the registry and on August 9th, Hadley received her long-awaited kidney transplant via a living donor match.
On her return to the hospital, Hadley’s mom said, ”I never lost hope but there were days when I thought we were never going to see the end of the road. The staff here have been nothing short of amazing. They have advocated with us, for us, and loved us like family. They have become our family and they have helped her grow into the little person that she is.’’