James
is 14 years old and like many boys his age James loves sport, especially
rugby and he trains with a local youth team. But James is not like most
other boys; he suffers from a rare kidney disorder called Nephrotic Syndrome
(NS).
The photograph to the right shows James when his body is coping with NS.
During a relapse, his kidneys leak protein into his body, causing James
to 'blow-up' with fluid retention, changing his appearance dramatically.
The photograph to
the left shows how his appearance is affected by a relapse.
Not only is this very uncomfortable for James, he becomes extremely self-conscious,
he is painfully aware of stares from classmates and especially from some
of the girls he might otherwise hope to impress.
The treatment for NS is to give high doses of steroids and although this
helps to control the disorder, the steroids have serious side effects. They
cause weight gain, retard growth and can make bones brittle in later life.
Even when he is well, James has to be monitored in hospital every three
months and has to have his urine tested every day.
James was diagnosed when he was only 18 months old so has not known life
without his illness.