Girl suffers from rare disorder, has both kidneys removed
By Mike McCombs
Friends and family are hosting a fundraiser this weekend for Natalyn Mann, a 20-month-old girl from Beaufort who had both kidneys removed in July because of a rare disease.
Coming Together for Natalyn, daughter of Erica and Michael Mann, will run from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 22, at the Jasper County Farmer’s Market.
The event will feature a wide selection of food in a Taste of the Town ($15 in advance, $20 at door), a bake sale, a silent auction, a car cruise in, live music by Andrew Beam, a cornhole tournament and kids activities (a $10 unlimited wristband for the dunk booth, a bounce house, face painting, superhero and princess appearances by Coastal Events, pony rides, live animals and games).
According to Sara Cathy, Natalyn’s aunt, her mother first realized there was a problem the day before Memorial Day.
“She was completely fine, … dancing, singing,” Cathy said. “Two days later, my sister was unable to rouse her. She was completely lethargic.”
Natalyn went from her pediatrician to Beaufort Memorial Hospital to MUSC in Charleston. She was airlifted out of Beaufort Memorial at 7 a.m. on Memorial Day.
In complete renal failure, Natalyn was diagnosed with bilateral renal stenosis, and then diffuse mesangial sclerosis, which is extremely rare.
Cathy said at one point, her blood pressure was 230/140, and because of pressure, doctors determined her kidneys would never function again. On June 8, she had both kidneys removed.
Natalyn, who turns 2 in October, now undergoes peritoneal dialysis for roughly 12 hours a day and is doing well. She went home for the first time Friday, Aug. 13 and will be added to the transplant list.
“She’s just like any other kid, acting like she’s not sick when she’s actually very sick,” Cathy said. “She’s had to undergo a lot of procedures, poked and prodded, needles, etc. She was very happy to go home (Friday) morning, dancing and singing all morning.
WANT TO GO?
What: Coming Together For Natalyn
When: 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 22
Where: Jasper County Farmer’s Market, 9935 S. Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland
Taste of the Town: Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of event. Vendors include the Ridgeland Fire Department (fried fish and fries), the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (hamburgers and hot dogs), Brian Cleland (ribs and pulled pork), Chef Donald (pork, chicken, ribs, burgers, philly’s and shrimp), La Potosina (Mexican street corn), J’s Chicken Salad Delight (chicken salad), Cakes by Liz (cakes and cheesecake), Pizza Bella (pizzas and subs), Sweet Jules Baking & Catering (Cake squares and cookies), Fiddler’s (Lowcountry boil), Roxy’s (chicken marsala and Greek salad) and Beach Bums Barbecue (ribs and leg quarters).
Kids Activities: Unlimited wristbands are $10 for the dunk booth, bounce house, face painting, superhero and princess appearances by Coastal Events, pony rides, live animals and games.
Other activities: Bake sale, silent auction, cruise in, live music by Andrew Beam, cornhole tournament.
For more information: Call Chelsea Brendlen at 843-305-0141.
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
