Published on Monday 30 April 2012 10:48

LITTLE Harry Readman looks like any happy smiling two-year-old.

But he is living with a ticking timebomb of chronic kidney disease that will leave him facing a lifetime of dialysis and in desperate need of a transplant.

He is blissfully unaware his kidneys are only functioning at 45 per cent of capacity and his parents are living with the knowledge he will face a daily battle against his disease.

The saying goes that ‘laughter is the best medicine’ and today Harry’s parents, Michael Readman, 32, and Louise Dagg, 30, are backing a comic bid to support the hospital which is treating their son.

The Hartlepool couple hope to raise money for the Children and Young People’s Kidney Fund based at the the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle because of their tremendous help and support.

Although their ordeal is deadly serious, the medium of laughter will help get their message across.

Family friend and Hartlepool-based stand-up comedian Nick Banks, along with 22 other comics, will walk the full length of Hadrian’s Wall, and put on six comedy gigs along the way to raise funds for the unit.

Harry’s condition was discovered in January after Michael and Louise noticed he wasn’t eating enough and he wasn’t growing as you would expect.

Doctors could not figure out what was wrong with the youngster and nutrition experts also found his condition a mystery.

But he was referred to specialists at the RVI, who discovered his poor kidney functions.

RVI medics are now keeping an eye on the youngster and he faces trips to the hospital every three months for monitoring.

But the family have been told Harry’s condition will worsen and he will need dialysis.

Michael said: “When something is wrong with your baby, you feel useless, which is the last thing you want to feel with your own child – you want to feel in control.

“We tried every single food and technique possible to get him to eat.

“When he was referred to the RVI, they found the reason behind his tiny appetite.”

He added: “Eventually he will need dialysis or a transplant.

“The doctors couldn’t really give us a timescale – it could be a year, it could be 10, or it could be next week.

“All they can do is keep an eye on his bloods.”

Michael, a supervisor at Kerry Foods, in Hartlepool, and full-time mum Louise, are preparing themselves for the possibility that they may be needed as kidney donors, and other family members could also be tested as only relatives could provide a match.

But he said: “I wouldn’t hesitate about doing it - I would give him my last breath.”

Michael, who lives with Louise and their children Jack, 13, Ben, 10, Katie, eight, Thomas, eight, and Joseph, six, in the town’s Barton Avenue said sometimes Harry is very lethargic, but other days he runs around like any other little boy.

“When he was first diagnosed, we reacted by wrapping him up in cotton wool, but the nurses and doctors said you shouldn’t do that,” he added.

“He has got to try and live a normal life.

“He is not in any distress, but his kidneys are having to work double-time.

“In the future, he may have to have home-dialysis, but it depends further down the road.”

Michael described staff at the RVI as “out of this world” and hailed the efforts of Nick Banks, his pal from their days at Brierton Secondary School, who has set about organising the charity event.

He said: “Nick is a superhero to me. “I was close to tears when he told me about his plans to help the unit - he is an amazing bloke.

“It’s certainly unique.”

• Email to a friend
• Print this page

...