2-year-old Corcoran boy with rare disease needs kidney, liver, support

CORCORAN, Calif. (FOX26) — Zyaire Jimenez is about to turn two years old. As every day goes by, his need for a new kidney and a new liver becomes more pronounced.

The baby boy was born with polycystic kidney disease. The National Institutes of Health describes that as a rare genetic disorder that causes fluid-filled cysts to form on the kidneys, changing their shape and making them much larger. That leads to high blood pressure, problems with the blood vessels in the brain and heart. His mother, Rosalyn Solomon, says in Zyaire's case, it's led him to develop cysts on his liver as well.

“It was devastating," said Solomon. "They didn’t give us – we didn’t know if he was going to live or die.”

His parents found out about the disease about 24 hours after he was first born. He came out about a month and a half early and spent two weeks in the NICU. He's been in and out of the hospital ever since.

“There’s not much we can go off of or other people we can relate to really, because it’s so rare. It’s not regular kidney disease where he’d just need dialysis," said Solomon.

Zyaire's disease affects about 1 in 20,000 kids, but his parents say the boy is one in a million. They explained, he doesn't know that he's any different from anyone else, and doesn't know his life is in danger. Although he has trouble moving around, he's a perfectly happy and sweet baby.

His disease requires round-the-clock care. Zyaire's dad, Alfredo Jimenez, says he has several medications he has to take daily, and needs to be extremely careful about his water intake.

“If not, we’re in the hospital for dehydration. It’s a lot of work. We have to be on time with everything," said Jimenez. “He has five different blood pressure medications he takes, on top of his vitamins – regular supplements that a child should take.”

His father says he isn't able to work and take care of his son. That's put a major strain on the family's finances, and makes it difficult for Zyaire's five other siblings (ages 10, 8, 5, 3, and 7 months) too.

Zyaire is now on the transplant list to get a new kidney and liver, but his parents are also considering trying a swap. His blood type is B+, so they're looking for a match.

“We’re just hoping that if he gets his surgery soon, it’ll be soon enough that he won’t remember the trauma that he had to endure," said Jimenez.

His parents have also set up a GoFundMe, which you can see here.