BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Louisiana mother donates her kidney to save her 7-year-old son

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) —  “Joyful, mischievous, playful…he really is light of our family,” said Dr. Christel Malinski.

“He just gives the best hugs that you would ever want. He just has this awesome smile. He smiles with his whole face, his eyes, everything. It’s a beautiful thing,” said John Malinski.

The Malinski’s are describing their beloved son, John David.

This adorable 7-year-old boy was diagnosed with Down syndrome and kidney disease when he was in his mother’s womb.

Since then, his parents and doctors have kept a close eye on his kidney function.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

“We knew at some point he was going to need a transplant. It wasn’t ‘if’—it was when,” said Dr. Malinsky.

So in the last seven years, Dr. Christel Malinski – a dermatologist – opened up her own practice, while her husband John became a stay-at-home dad, caring for John David, his twin sister Charlotte and their 11-year old daughter, Audrey.

They were happy; life was good, but then, John-David’s health took a left turn.

“Recently, he became ill to the point that dialysis was going to be something that he would need,” said Dr. Malinski.

Dr. Christel Malinski found out she was a positive match to be her son’s donor, and without skipping a beat, made plans for the operation at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.

That surgery, happening just days ago on Nov. 17.

“I feel like I was born to be his mother, so that I could give him his kidney,” said Dr. Malinski.

Now, John David is recovering in the ICU, while his mom is staying across the street at the Hog’s House Family Center.

The Malinski’s say this surgery will change their family’s lives for the better and hope others will consider organ donation in the future.

“If more people donated their kidneys, we could completely eliminate the transplant list. What it did for him, the way it changed his life, it’s worth it,” said Dr. Malinski.

When it comes to John David’s Down syndrome, she wants people to know it’s not a burden; it’s a gift.

“Children with Down syndrome just have this way of bringing joy to other people. I think everyone needs to know someone in their life with Down Syndrome because it will absolutely enrich your life,” said Dr. Malinski.

The Malinski’s say John David is recovering well and are hoping to all be home in time for Thanksgiving.

Mid-South

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

65°F Sunny Feels like 65°
Wind
8 mph SW
Humidity
55%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
52°F Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wind
9 mph WSW
Precip
15%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous