Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT ANNIVERSARY

‘She’s a different kid’: One year post-transplant, Ferris Backmeyer is thriving

Jun 28, 2024 | 4:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — The health journey of the Backmeyer family in Kamloops hasn’t been easy. Ferris Backmeyer was diagnosed with Mainzer-Saldino Syndrome when she was a baby, and spent years waiting for a kidney transplant. Those years included a series of hospital stays, and even a failed transplant.

But last year, Ferris was able to have a successful kidney transplant operation, after a living donor, Leah Scott, made it possible through Canada’s Kidney Paired Donation Program. Leah and Ferris weren’t a direct match, but were part of a paired exchange chain that eventually led to a match for Ferris.

CFJC caught up with Ferris and her mum, Lindsey, this week to hear how the whole Backmeyer family have been adjusting to their new normal.

“Her quality of life has just remarkably improved. She’s a different kid,” says Backmeyer. “A completely different kid.

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These days, seven-year-old Ferris is living her life more like any other kid, and less like a patient.

“All the things they told us that we would probably see with a transplant, we’re just seeing them happen. Like, she eats food, she doesn’t need dialysis anymore, she goes to school, she’s made some friends, playdates, birthday parties, all the normal kid stuff,” explains Backmeyer.

More than a year ago, Backmeyer says the family had begun planning a Make a Wish trip when they got word there was a donor for Ferris. That Wish trip to Disney World still happened after the transplant, with a completely different sense of hope.

“She (Ferris) was post-transplant, she didn’t feel sick at all that entire trip, she had incredible energy, she loves rides and water and so we did all of that,” explains Backmeyer.

The Backmeyers aren’t out of the woods yet, as Ferris is still immunocompromised, and has dealt with many viral illnesses and infections this past year. Including a serious hospital stay over the fall and winter.

“I would love to say it was all amazing and super good but the reality is there was definitely some challenges in the first year, and some bumps and stuff,” she says, “But comparative to our life on dialysis it’s been a walk in the park.”

There are some things that still require regular check-ins and medical attention, but Backmeyer says it’s nothing like the years they spent navgiating long term stays at Ronald McDonald House, BC Children’s Hospital, and the overall experience of being a family with a medically complex member.

Now, there are fewer days where Ferris isn’t feeling well, and she’s no longer exclusively tube fed. Backmeyer says the physical, mental, and social development is the most noticeable change in her daughter.

“You can just see the pride and the smile, and how exciting it is. She knows it. She knows that a kidney is why she doesn’t have to do all of those hard things. And it makes her happy, I love when she talks about it. Like, you get it girl, which is pretty cool.”

That relief, paired with gratitude for years of community support, and the kidney donation that ultimately gave Ferris a chance to grow up.

“It’s actually one of the few things that humans can do that can truly save lives,” adds Backmeyer, “You can donate blood, you can donate plasma, and you can donate organs and actually save human lives. It’s amazing.”