Leland Batson’s story started 15 years ago when he came into the world fighting! Born at just over three pounds and 11 weeks early, he started life troubled. He stayed in the NICU until he weighed five pounds and could go home just in time for Easter.
The years went by and Leland was healthy. As elementary school came to an end, we started to notice that Leland seemed to be much smaller than his classmates. The bullying also started. Knowing that middle schoolers were not going to be any nicer, I started looking into why he didn’t seem to be growing.
In 2022 we started seeing an endocrinologist in Atlanta, Georgia. After about two years of testing and medication, there was still no growth. Brain MRIs and bone X-rays were done, insurance requirements were met, and finally he could start growth therapy injections.
In 2023 Leland started having stomach issues. Foods he could previously eat with no problem were now upsetting his stomach. We started avoiding those foods. We were referred to a specialist to test him for food allergies, but no real allergies were found. Our next step was a pediatric gastroenterologist. Leland was started on an anti-diarrheal medication three times a day as a preventative.
By 2025 nothing had improved. His gastroenterologist performed a colonoscopy and endoscopy to rule out Crohn’s disease, both of which came out picture perfect—no Crohn’s. Thankfully the doctor did not stop there! He sent Leland for an MRI of his small intestine. The results showed no Crohn’s disease; however, his kidneys look small. The gastroenterologist then referred us to a nephrologist for clearance to give Leland a stronger anti-diarrheal medication.
It was difficult to get an appointment with the nephrologist. By that point, it was mid-2025, and Leland would not eat breakfast or lunch at school for fear of having an accident. The earliest appointment was for late December at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, approximately 16 weeks away! Leland was now 14 years old and weighed only 80 pounds. He wanted to eat but was literally starving to death.
I reached out to Children’s Healthcare of Birmingham. They were able to get Leland scheduled for an appointment that was two weeks away. The day after I forwarded his information to the new doctor, they called and asked me to bring Leland in the following day. Little did I know we would be emergency admitted for a week!
As soon as the doctor walked in to go over Leland’s history and bloodwork, EVERYTHING became clear: the lack of growth, the diarrhea, and even a broken elbow…it all pointed to stage-five kidney failure. We were told he needed a kidney transplant.
Leland is not your average teenage boy. He’s polite, loves history, always tries his hardest, follows the rules, loves God, and is very loved by his teachers and family.
ETW — Leland has already overcome so much in his young life, and now he is facing his biggest challenge yet. A living donor could give Leland the chance to grow, heal, and live a full life. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a donor, please contact a transplant center or speak with a medical professional to begin the evaluation process. If you need help knowing who to call, contact info@endthewait.net
End the Wait Foundation exists to support families like Leland’s and to raise awareness about living kidney donation. While we do not provide medical advice or donor evaluations, we encourage those interested in helping to connect with licensed transplant professionals.
Sharing Leland’s story with your friends, family, church, or community can help us reach someone who may be a match. You never know who might feel called to help!
