HILLIARD -- The Staugler family is asking their community in Hilliard to become more aware of kidney research after learning their 3-year-old son suffers a failing kidney.
"There's just no answers. It is difficult not knowing why," said Raechel Staugler, mother of 3-year-old Max. "It makes your mommy heart hurt. You're just like if there's anything I can do to make this better."
The toddler, like other little ones his age, loves superheroes. Now he's hoping for a special hero of his own to save the day and his kidney.
Parents Raechel and Mitch Staugler didn't know anything was wrong with their little boy’s organs until last October. They rushed Max through the front doors of Nationwide Children's Hospital after noticing he was lethargic, barely breathing and not responding.
"It was a scary moment, it happened really fast," said Mitch Staugler. "We knew he was lethargic, he was having trouble breathing, but we didn't really understand to the extent that he was in pain and injured."
"He was bobbing his head, his eyes were rolling back in his head. He was the exact definition of lethargic," said Raechel Staugler.
Doctors soon explained that Max had barely survived a buildup of toxins from kidneys that were not cleaning his blood.
From that day almost a year ago, the Stauglers gave their son dialysis for half of every single day. That means, despite being a curious 3-year-old, Max must sit still in his bed for 12 hours while machines clean his blood. He is also only fed through tubes. His parents said a kidney transplant could completely change Max's lifestyle.
Pediatric kidney transplants are not terribly common, and finding the right donor can be difficult. Max's parents began testing themselves.
"We were fingers crossed, wanting so badly for one of us- my husband or I to be a match for him," said Raechel Staugler.
She met with the doctors about her son. They told her Mitch is not a match, but Raechel is.
"I was so excited when I heard 'Yes, you are approved to be a donor for him.' It is what we wanted," said Raechel.
"I'm getting mommy's kidney. It goes here," said Max as he pointed to his belly button.
He may not understand the details, but Max does understand the feeling of hope. He'll receive his mother's kidney before Christmas. Until then, his dad said his son will continue being one of the most courageous toddlers he knows.
While the Stauglers await the December surgery, they work to raise kidney awareness. They took part in last Sunday's Kidney Walk and said they raised more than $10-thousand for research.
"Hopefully in a couple years, or in six months or in two weeks we'll have the research we need to figure out why all this happened," said Raechel Staugler.
They also made special superhero shirts that stand for "Marvelous Max".
Although some say the double "M"'s on the red and blue shirts could also stand for Marvelous Mommy, too.
"I think everyone's a little bit of a hero," said Mitch Staugler. "But especially my wife for being brave enough to donate one of her kidneys."
To learn more about the Kidney Association of Ohio click here: http://kfohio.org/