- At just three-days-old, Clara Boddie of Texas was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and was born with only one kidney
- Grandmother Cindy Smith, 54, offered to donate one of her kidneys upon hearing the news that Clara's parents were ineligible donors
- Clara had a successful kidney transplant in March and is doing well
By Alexandra Klausner For Dailymail.com
Published: 10:47 EST, 11 May 2015 | Updated: 10:47 EST, 11 May 2015
A grandmother saved her infant granddaughter’s life two months ago by donating one of her kidneys.
At just three-days-old, Clara Boddie of Texas was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and was born with just one vital kidney.
Clara started dialysis at just six-days-old up until she was 21-months-old when she was big enough for transplant surgery.
Grandmother Cindy Smith, 54, offered to donate one of her kidneys to her tiny granddaughter after hearing she required a new organ in order to live a normal life.
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New hope: Grandmother Cindy Smith (right), 54, donated one of her kidneys to Clara Boddie in March
Happy family: Clara Boddie's parents are thrilled that she may have a normal life after being born with kidney disease and receiving a successful transplant
Lifelong bond: Clara Boddie's surgery has brought her closer to her grandmother with whom she enjoys spending a lot of her time
'This is our first grandbaby,' Cindy told ABC.
'Nowadays, things go so smoothly with science, and it just was not the case with Clara. ... We knew she was a fighter,' she added.
Mother Kate Boddie told ABC that doctors discovered Clara Boddie's kidney problems when she was still in her mother's womb.
Both of Clara's parents were ineligible donors and so that's when Clara's grandmother stepped in.
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'I always knew it was going to be me,' Cindy told CBS.
'From the very beginning I knew I was going to be the one to give her my kidney,' she added.
ESRD happens when the kidneys can no longer clear waste and toxins from the body. When this occurs, a transplant is the person suffering from the disease's only chance at survival.
'About 1 percent of patients with ESRD are children,' said Dr. Eileen Brewer, Clara's doctor and Medical Director of Kidney Transplant at Texas Children's Hospital where Clara was born.
Ill: At just three-days-old, Clara Boddie of Texas was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and was born with only one kidney
Fun days: Clara and her grandmother Cindy enjoy playing together and going to the beach in nice weather
Recovery: Two months after getting surgery, Clara (pictured in March), is feeling healthy
'It's a very different disease than what occurs in adults,' she added.
Clara, on dialysis since she was six-days-old, became old enough and eligible to receive the transplant at the end of March.
'Babies need to get a little bit bigger to make the surgery possible,' Dr. Eileen Brewer said.
'We are able to transplant adult kidneys into babies, which is better than transplanting baby kidneys into babies because the blood vessels are so small and have clots in them,' she explained.
Kate said she feared for her daughter when she found out neither she nor her husband would be able to donate their kidneys because they were not a match.
'It was heartbreaking to learn I couldn't do this for my child,' Kate said.
Cindy said she was relieved when she found out her kidney was suitable for Clara and that she'd be able to donate her organ.
'I've always tried really hard to stay in shape,' Cindy said.
Tough ride: Clara started dialysis at just six-days-old up until she was 21-months-old when she was big enough for the kidney surgery that saved her life
'And I feel like all of that work I've done to stay healthy was leading up to this, being able to give Clara a chance at a normal life.'
The surgery was successful and Clara is doing extremely well.
Clara's family describes her as being a, ‘lively, outgoing, and an easy-going, sweet child.'
Clara and her grandmother Cindy enjoy playing together and going to the beach.
'She's incredibly fun to be with,' Cindy said.
Kate told CBS that the terrifying situation brought her even closer with her mother and daughter.
'Kate was always close with her grandmother so I think that the idea of me doing this and allowing Clara and I to have that same kind of relationship has meant a lot to Kate,' Smith said.
The family celebrated a special mother's day yesterday in honor of their maternal bond.
'It's a good time of year to have this all happen and it's a great opportunity to say thank you to my mom again,' said Kate.
Strong bond: Kate Boddie, her daughter Clara, and her mother Cindy Smith celebrated a very special Mother's Day on Sunday in honor of Cindy Smith's brace choice to donate her kidney
Smiles: Kate Boddie said learning about her daughter Clara;'s kidney disease was terrifying but that thanks to grandma, Clara is happy and feeling like a normal child
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