Island Heights Toddler Thriving After Kidney Surgery
December 12, 2024
For many parents-to-be, the 20-week anatomy scan is one ultrasound that causes both excitement and anxiety. During this scan, parents can learn the sex of their baby and can potentially be informed of any abnormalities.
When Beth Slocum-Mackey of Island Heights had her 20-week ultrasound, she and her husband, Brian Mackey, learned their unborn daughter had hydronephrosis of her left kidney, an enlargement of the part of the kidney where urine collects.
Thanks to advanced ultrasound technology, this common condition is found more often during prenatal scans, says Kristin Kozakowski, M.D., pediatric urologist at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
“The majority of hydronephrosis turns out to be minor and may go away on its own,” Dr. Kozakowski says. “But in situations where there’s an obstruction or something called reflux—when the urine backs up into the kidney from the bladder—surgery may be needed.”
In cases of obstruction, children may experience abdominal or back pain, vomiting episodes, and, rarely, blood in their urine or urinary tract infections. Over time, obstruction can cause damage to the kidney which can result in loss of kidney function, and in rare cases, loss of the kidney.
Beth had regular ultrasounds throughout her pregnancy, so when Marigold was born in August 2022, Beth and Brian knew that their baby daughter’s hydronephrosis hadn’t resolved on its own.
Caring Treatment for Hydronephrosis
In the weeks after Marigold’s birth, Beth and Brian did extensive research to find a pediatric urologist. Dr. Kozakowski was on their list of possibilities, and after their initial meeting, they knew they’d found the doctor for them.
“Jersey Shore’s an excellent hospital, and she was well regarded,” says Brian. “When we met with her, she was easy to communicate with, and she wasn’t rushing us into surgery.”
Dr. Kozakowski ordered imaging tests, which determined that Marigold’s hydronephrosis was caused by an obstruction—in this case, a narrowing of one of the junction points where the kidney meets the ureter, the tube carrying urine between the kidney and the bladder. “It’s a very common place to have a blockage, and surgery is the only way to fix this,” Dr. Kozakowski says.
Beth and Brian were deeply concerned about their daughter’s exposure to anesthesia during a three-hour surgery when she was only six weeks old. “We kind of felt like we were caught between a rock and a hard place where we had to address it, but we didn’t want to address it too soon because we didn’t want to mess up her cognitive development,” says Beth.
Dr. Kozakowski says postponing surgery is an option for some patients. “Hydronephrosis is something that we try to fix early so that there’s no damage done to the kidney. But if parents aren’t comfortable with surgery and the child is doing fine physically with no signs or symptoms—which most don’t have at a young age—then surgery can wait for a few months,” she says.
“That she listened to us and did not rush us into surgery was one of our favorite things about her,” says Beth. “She really was empathetic to our concerns,” Brian adds.
Surgical Solution for Hydronephrosis
Beth and Brian opted to schedule their daughter for surgery after Marigold was monitored for a few months, during which time Marigold seemed fine. While the output was low, she was still urinating, and she had no fevers. Dr. Kozakowski performed Marigold’s surgery in October 2023, when she was fourteen months old.
Marigold woke up from the surgery in great spirits, her parents say. “She was waving at all the nurses and trying to climb out of the crib,” Beth says. And when she got home the next day, she ran around like she hadn’t just had surgery. “We felt more tired than she did,” Brian jokes.
Dr. Kozakowski says Marigold is unlikely to have any kidney issues as she gets older. Her formerly compromised kidney is looking good and functioning well, something her parents can attest to. Her father laughingly notes, “She’s using a lot more diapers.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Kristin Kozakowski, M.D.
- To make an appointment with a pediatric urologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
