In Pulaski, Virginia, the parents of a toddler are raising awareness about nephrotic syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal kidney disease that their child, Kamden Lambert, is battling. Kamden’s parents, Matthew Lambert and Michelle Shelor, shared that when their son was born, doctors identified an issue with his kidneys and diagnosed him with a kidney dilation disorder, which is common in boys and usually not considered serious.
For the first two years of Kamden’s life, everything seemed normal. However, in January, his condition took a sudden turn. Matthew Lambert recalls that Kamden woke up one morning with his entire body swollen, and he was no longer acting like the child they knew. Concerned, the parents immediately took Kamden to the doctor, where they were initially told that his symptoms were likely due to allergies. The doctors reassured them that this was a common reaction and that it could be something else, but most likely it was just allergies.
Despite the initial diagnosis, Kamden’s condition worsened. His swelling did not subside, he stopped urinating, and his breathing became irregular. Desperate for answers, his parents sought additional medical opinions. Eventually, they were referred to the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, where Kamden was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a rare kidney disease that can have severe consequences if left untreated. The disease causes the kidneys to release harmful proteins and enzymes into the body, resulting in harmful reactions and flare-ups. According to the National Institutes of Health, fewer than five in 100,000 children worldwide develop nephrotic syndrome each year.
Thanks to the timely diagnosis, Kamden is now on the path to recovery. His parents, however, are committed to ensuring that other children are not misdiagnosed or left untreated for such a rare disease. They emphasize that if nephrotic syndrome is dismissed as allergies or another common issue, it could be fatal if not treated properly.
