Josh's Story

Josh
Age 14
Kidney Transplant

St. Louis Children's Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center

Although 14-year-old Josh has been treated since birth for kidney disease, his first memory of being sick was at age 3 when he got a TV in his bedroom. Josh says he remembers thinking it was "so cool," but it was there for a reason: to distract him while he was on dialysis 12 hours a day. He knew he needed it to live, but says it was more like just surviving. In his words, "How do you really live when you're connected to a machine so many hours a day?"

After years of watching other kids live normal, active lives the way he only wished he could, Josh received a kidney transplant at age 6 from a special donor: his mom, Carolyn. It took a year post-transplant for Josh's body to adjust to the new kidney, but at long last, his new life began.

Josh is finally free of dialysis machines and is living it up, going to nighttime baseball games, swimming at water parks, sleeping over at friends' houses and seeing sunsets in person instead of on TV or through a window. He's grateful to his doctors at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and especially to his mom for giving him life—twice.

About Walmart and Sam’s Club

Wal-Mart has supported Children’s Miracle Network since 1987. Since then, Children’s Miracle Network and Wal-Mart have worked tirelessly together to help children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised more than $500 million for children’s hospitals during the 23 year relationship. This is the second year Walmart and Sam’s Club have sponsored the Champions program.

Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club

Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club is a Children's Miracle Network program that brings attention to the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable children who have faced severe medical challenges.

The Champions program designates a champion child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The champions represent the nearly 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals every year. The 2010 champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including genetic diseases, heart transplants and traumas, as well as life-threatening staph infections.

As part of Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club, the champions travel for a week in June to Washington, D.C., where champions traditionally meet with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the President of the United States during a visit to the White House. The family then travels to Orlando, Fla., for a second week in November. There, champions meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsor, hospital and media partners who all convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort.