Wyatt’s Story: Finding Hope
Meet Wyatt
If you were to meet Wyatt today, you’d see a joyful, energetic little boy who loves Disney movies, baseball and making people laugh. Happiest when he’s with his family, Wyatt is finally getting to enjoy the simple moments of childhood, but his journey hasn’t been simple.
Wyatt’s care at Children’s Mercy began before he was born. At a routine 20-week ultrasound, what should have been a joyful milestone quickly became devastating. His parents learned that his kidneys, ureters and bladder were severely swollen, and they weren’t sure if their baby would survive.
“Transitioning from being a mom of one healthy kiddo to a medical mom is a shift nothing can fully prepare you for,” his mom, Hannah, said.
Soon after, the family was referred to Children’s Mercy, where the Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center took over care for the remainder of Hannah’s pregnancy. For 17 weeks, specialists from fetal health, neonatology and nephrology worked together to guide the family through an overwhelming time such as answering questions, explaining what to expect and offering reassurance along the way.
Wyatt was born at 37 weeks with posterior urethral valves (PUV), a rare condition that caused a blockage in his urinary tract. He underwent surgery just days after birth, followed by years of medical management, hospitalizations and daily medications. Despite every effort, his symptoms continued, and he eventually needed a kidney transplant.
The family waited 607 days. Multiple potential living donors came forward, but match after match fell through until last fall, when everything changed.
Wyatt received a directed kidney donation from a young girl in his community, Morgan, a 4th grader who was a vibrant, spirited little girl whose smile brightened every room. Her family chose donation during their own loss — an extraordinary act of generosity that changed Wyatt’s life forever.
In November 2025, Wyatt received his transplant at The Brendan Tripp Elam Transplant Center at Children's Mercy. Despite the complexity of the surgery, he was home within a week, and the change was immediate. Wyatt gained energy, began eating and talking more, and started catching up developmentally. After spending much of his early life sick and exhausted, he was finally able to run, play and experience childhood in a new way.
“There is a moment I will never forget,” Hannah said. “For years, I saw banners on other children’s doors that said, ‘Congrats on your brand new kidney!’ and wondered when it would be Wyatt’s turn. Finally, that day came.”
Today, Wyatt is thriving. He’s playing T-ball, trying new foods, talking nonstop and growing stronger every day. When asked what Children’s Mercy means to her family, Hannah doesn’t hesitate.
“To us, Children’s Mercy means hope,” she said. “Hope for the future, hope for our child and a place that feels like family.”
Recently, Wyatt’s family connected with Morgan’s family, and what they shared was filled with gratitude and hope. They told Wyatt’s family how meaningful it is to see Morgan’s gift live on so her light can continue, bringing strength, comfort and new beginnings.
To families just beginning a similar journey, Hannah offers reassurance: “It’s OK to be scared. Lean on your care team, take it one day at a time and hold on to hope because there is light at the end of the tunnel.”