Little fighter beats the odds

Six-year-old Frankie is a true fighter. Born with end-stage kidney disease, she had no function in one kidney and only eight per cent in the other, meaning she struggled with several health concerns in her early years.

But against the odds, Frankie began school at Carlton North Primary School last year where she is thriving in her new environment.

And for the first time in her life, she can now play sport albeit in a safe manner.

“It’s hard to look back. When Frankie was born, we learnt the greatest love and fear humanly possible,” Frankie’s Mum Christine De Nardo said.

“Seeing her now, running around with her friends and scaling the monkey bars, you wouldn’t believe it was the same child. We are eternally grateful for our blessings.”

Frankie is an ambassador for Kidney Health Australia and its Kidney Kids and Youth Programs which helps children and young people deal with the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of kidney disease. 

One of the major fundraisers for the Kids and Youth program, which supports kids like Frankie, is the Kidney Kar Rally.

The event will see 40 rally cars driven and designed by supporters of Kidney Health Australia and travel a total distance of 5040 km to help raise funds for its programs.

Starting out in Cairns in Far North Queensland on August 10, the cars will make their way to Dubbo in New South Wales on August 20.

All funding raised will help run camps where children can meet others their age who are going through what they are, mentoring as well as specialised resources and information to manage kidney disease diagnosis and treatment.  

Frankie's parents, Dominic and Christine, who both hold a PhD in Life Sciences, want to share their story to provide support, education and hope to other families “and let them know they are not alone”. 

“We hope Kidney Health Australia becomes a household name as an organisation committed to saving and improving the lives of people affected by the disease through support services and funding crucial research,” Ms De Nardo said.

The Kidney Kar Rally is particularly important for our family and the fun event raises funds and awareness for Kidney Health Australia’s Kids and Youth Programs. Get behind a great cause today!

Every day, about 63 people in Australia die with kidney-related disease – more than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and road accidents. 

People on dialysis spend on average 60 hours a month strapped to a machine to stay alive.

To learn more about Kidney Health Australia or donate, visit: kidney.org.au