Ramonie's Story

Ramonie
Age 8
Immune System Disorder

Riley Hospital for Children

Few people have faced odds like 8-year-old Ramonie. At 20 months old, she was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare immune system disorder with no known cause or cure. The disorder leads to protein loss that, if not controlled, could lead to kidney failure. Despite multiple hospitalizations at Riley Hospital for Children, a home nurse and medications, Ramonie's body became susceptible to infections, fluid retention and dangerous protein loss.

At age 3, Ramonie went into kidney failure. For the next two years she was kept alive with dialysis eight hours a day, seven days a week until a kidney donor was found, and she underwent a successful transplant.

But with FSGS, there's a 30 percent chance the disease would reoccur. With Ramonie, it returned in just three days. She began aggressive aphresis treatments that cycled her blood through a machine to be replaced with donated blood. Doctors knew that if treatment wasn't successful, the transplanted kidney could be lost and subsequent transplants would have an even lower chance for success.

That's when Ramonie beat the odds. She recovered and today she has no medical or physical restrictions. At long last, Ramonie can live each day to the fullest as she's long waited to do.

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.