Support Amber and Baby Charlotte's Kidney Battle

My name is Mariah and I am starting this gofundme page for my cousin, Amber Gardner and her baby girl Charlotte.

Starting August 17th Charlie woke up with a slight fever and mom assumed teething to be the culprit. But by the following Monday, mom noticed a discoloration in Charlie’s urine. She made her an appointment that day and was given antibiotics by her doctor. By the following morning, Charlie woke up very swollen. Mom made another appointment in which they assumed she was having a reaction to the antibiotics and prescribed her another. The following morning, Charlie was even more swollen, fussy, not wanting to eat or drink and still having discolored urination. Instead of going back to the doctors, mom and dad decided to take her to Rady’s emergency room where they assumed the same reaction to antibiotics. After a few quick blood tests and urine test everyone was very surprised to see that she was in complete renal failure. It was to the point that her potassium level was so high they were worried it would stop her heart. She was then immediately admitted into the pediatric intensive care unit. Charlie has been in Rady’s children’s hospital trying to recover function to her kidneys ever since. At one point, they thought she was doing okay and got to go home for a day, but unfortunately, her kidneys crashed shortly after and she is back in renal failure. After a kidney biopsy on September 12th, the diagnosis is likely a rare disease called C3 Glomerulonephritis (C3GN). The future is uncertain but a treatment plan will be put in place and conversations will be had about the possibility of a transplant.

This experience has been extremely heartbreaking to watch my cousin and her husband have to go through. They have 5 children total, and have had to split their time caring for Charlie at the hospital 24/7 while manage getting Liam (11) and Evely (10) to school, and getting help with childcare for Maverick (4), and Georgia (1 - Charlie’s twin). The stress is exponential and something we don’t wish on anybody. Due to the 24/7 hospital visits, Jason has been unable to work and it has taken a toll on them financially. Any donations would be greatly appreciated, and/or sharing of this post. Thank you so much.