On July 2, the Belly Up Tavern presents Reggae to the Rescue to raise money for local teen Andy Roder Powell. The event will feature Shoreline Rootz, The Devastators, and more, and will be hosted by Chris Cote of Transworld Surf/Fuel TV. Doors and silent auction at 6pm; show at 8pm. Please contact Meryl Klemow if you are interested in contributing a donated item. (meryl@bellyup.com)
In August of 2008, Andy went to the Rady Children’s Hospital emergency room unable to urinate, with no appetite, and excessive vomiting. He was admitted to Children’s several times over the next two months and was diagnosed with hypertension and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), caused by a rare kidney/blood disorder, atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). Andy underwent both kidney and bone marrow biopsies, one of which kept him hospitalized over his 11th birthday. He endured plasmapheresis treatments, sometimes as often as three times a week. He managed his CKD until the summer of 2010, when his blood pressure soared. He was stung by a stingray at the beach causing a serious infection, and when added to the side effects from his medications, and his persistent disease, the combined stressors caused his kidney function to fail.
On December 15, 2010, Andy had surgery to insert a peritoneal dialysis catheter and he began dialysis treatments. He was discharged two days before Christmas, and for the next 16 months he received the treatments for ten hours every night in his bedroom. Andy has continued to grow as a young man, entering his freshman year at Point Loma High School. On April 7, 2012, Andy’s parents got a call from Children’s notifying them that a donor kidney was available from a cadaver, and the next morning, on Easter Sunday, Andy received his new kidney. The operation was a success and Andy now has a new opportunity to have a healthy, happy life. With his new kidney comes new challenges, though. The litany of drugs, especially the immunosuppressants he must take daily, have huge costs associated with them. There are several he will most likely be on for the rest of his life. The community is invited to help in the Belly Up’s efforts to assist Andy and his family in dealing with the financial difficulties. (858/481-8140, www.bellyup.com)
