Josiah Fight Against Kidney Disease

Hello everyone, my name is Jeniffer Jaralillo and I am raising funds on behalf of my son Josiah and our family. Josiah is the strongest little boy I know and has already been fighting this diagnosis since 2020. On October 17th of 2020, Josiah woke up feeling nauseous and his whole face and body were swollen. After a trip to the pediatrician, the ER and ultimately Texas Children’s Hospital, he was admitted and diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, known as nephrotic syndrome. This disease does not have a cure and the cause is unknown. Even though there is no cure at this time, some patients can achieve remission with medication. However, patients do frequently relapse after remission when they get sick or if they have allergies, so it is something Josiah will be fighting for many years. When he gets sick and his immune system ramps up, it will start to attack his kidneys, rather than the illness, which will cause him to relapse. High-dose steroids are used to treat this disease and for 90% of patients, the steroids can put them in remission. Unfortunately, Josiah has a more complicated case and he did not respond to the steroid treatment alone.

Since being diagnosed, Josiah has been hospitalized 18 times total (6 just within this year 2023), he has had a kidney biopsy and he has needed to go into the hospital several times a week for albumin and lasix infusions. Josiah has been started on a strong immunosuppressant drug used on transplant patients to try and help lower the amount of protein he is spilling each day in addition to his steroids. He has also been put on two medications to control his high blood pressure, which is a side effect of his disease and the steroids. He is also on medication to help protect his stomach from the steroids. Josiah now will go once a week to an infusion center to receive Solu-Medrol. Josiah diet has been drastically changed as well. He is currently restricted to less than 1 gram of sodium a day and 1 liter of fluids. 

I am trying to raise funds for our family as we navigate this terrible disease and adjust to our new normal. Josiah is such a strong and resilient little boy and he has the best sense of humor. He has such an outgoing personality and is loved by everyone who knows him. He is such an inspiration to our family and he means the world to all of us. Thank you for taking the time to read Josiah’s story and for all of the love and support Josiah has received since being diagnosed.