At Walter’s 20-week anatomy scan, Luisa and Josh Eudy learned that their baby’s feet were turned in and were recommended to Atrium Health Women’s Care Maternal Fetal Medicine.
“We say that Walter’s feet saved his life,” Josh says. “That appointment confirmed that Walter had bilateral clubbed feet and we would have to address it after he was born. But because we had to have additional scans, we were able to see that Walter had kidney issues, too.”
Thanks to this scan, the Eudys were able to connect with a specialist right away and figure out what needed to be done when he was born.
They were referred to Dr. Mark Williams, chief of pediatric urology at Atrium Health Levine Children’s, named a Best Children's Hospital for pediatric urology and kidney care by U.S. News & World Report. Their first appointment with Williams was when Luisa was 30 weeks pregnant.
“We were a little nervous going into our appointment with Dr. Williams because this was all new to us,” Luisa says. “We had already gone through two miscarriages at this point, so we immediately thought the worst. But Dr. Williams was very patient and took the time to answer all our questions.”
Williams confirmed on the ultrasound that Walter had an obstructed urinary tract that was due to posterior urethral valves (PUVs), small leaflets of tissue in the urethra that block urine from flowing out of the bladder. PUVs occur during fetal development and affects about 1 in 5,000 boys.
“When I met with the Eudys, we went over options for Walter’s treatment plan when he is born,” Williams says. “In addition to needing to place a cathetar and ensuring he was stable enough to surgically remove the PUVs, we discussed how his kidney function would be carefully managed by our nephrology colleagues, and that Walter would need long term care for his bladder and kidneys.”
Josh says that Williams assured them they would have a better idea of what course of care Walter would need once he was born.
“It was a relief to have some plans in place and we felt comfortable that Walter would be in good hands,” Josh says.
Putting Plans into Action
Luisa delivered Walter via C-section at Atrium Health Pineville when she was 38 weeks pregnant. Walter weighed nine pounds and eight ounces when he was born, in part because of the fluid that had built up in his kidneys.
Walter had a catheter placed for a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), a special X-ray to see a child's urinary tract and bladder.
The results from Walter’s VCUG and ultrasound confirmed that he had hydronephrosis – a condition in which the kidneys become stretched and swollen as the result of a build-up of urine inside them. Walter’s hydronephrosis was caused by the PUVs, which needed to be surgically removed.
Due to the complexity of his condition, Walter was transferred when he was four days old to Levine Children's Hospital.
Williams evaluated Walter and determined that due to his size, he was able to withstand a transurethral valve ablation – the surgery to remove the PUVs.
Walter was six days old when he had the surgery and was able to go home just two days after the procedure.
“We were shocked when we got the call that he was ready for us to bring him home because we thought he would be recovering in the hospital for several weeks,” Josh says. “We were so glad that we were able to bring him home sooner than we expected.”
Williams says he was happy to see Walter be able to return home quickly after the procedure.
“Patients typically recover quickly from the surgery, but sometimes need much more time in the NICU if their kidney function is poor,” Williams says.
The Waiting Game
Josh and Luisa say Walter continues to grow and thrive despite the obstacles he faced in his first few weeks of life. Walter now has his routine blood work done every four months to check his progress and annual ultrasounds to monitor his kidneys to ensure they are growing proportionately. Walter also wears a clubfoot brace – often called an orthotic – to treat the feet that saved his life.
Williams says it has been special for him to be able to watch Walter’s journey unfold since before he was even born.
“Thanks to the connectivity of our health care system and the referral from maternal fetal medicine, I have had the opportunity to see Walter grow and to get to know his parents,” Williams says. “They are extremely kind people, and I know Walter will do well because he has them to always advocate for him.”
“We are incredibly thankful for Dr. Williams and all he has done for Walter – and for us,” Josh says. “We put our trust in him and he has gone above and beyond to be there for us and support us every step of the way.”
The Eudys say they are grateful to live in Charlotte, where they don’t have to travel far to have access to top-tier care at Levine Children’s.
“It’s a huge deal that we live right near this award-winning hospital,” Luisa says. “From making us artwork with Walter’s footprints to comforting me when I was breastfeeding, they have been there for us on so many levels.”
“One thing that stood out to us most about our experience is the consistency of care,” Josh says. “At each facility we were at, from maternal fetal medicine and Atrium Health Pineville to Levine Children’s, everyone had a smile or an encouraging word that helped us through some tough times.”
The Wink of a Smile
Walter has been through a lot in his eight months of life, but his obstacles have not dampened his spirit. The Eudys say their son’s smile can light up a room. Which Luisa says is reminiscent of her own mom, who passed away when Luisa was twelve weeks pregnant with Walter.
“I did get the opportunity to tell her I was pregnant,” Luisa says. “But even though she didn’t get to meet him, I feel like Walter’s smile is a wink from her. I’m connected to her every time he smiles because it reminds me so much of her.”
Walter has already impacted many lives with his spirit, and his story has only just begun. Among other adventures they’re excited to experience with Walter, the Eudys are looking forward to taking him to Disney World to experience the magic that inspired his name.
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