South Carolina Teen Looking For A Kidney Donor For The Second Time

A 13-year old South Carolina girl is pleading for a kidney donation for the second time in her short existence in hopes that she can “live a normal life.”  

Bluffton’s Madison Belz has been battling cystic dysplasia since birth - a condition that she developed in the womb that doesn’t let her kidneys grow normally. 

When she was just seven years old, Madison had her first kidney transplant from her aunt after spending months on dialysis.  

Back then the Belz family knew they’d eventually have to walk down the transplant road again, and Madison’s mom Brooke said she’s “scared.” 

“We knew it was coming. We just didn’t know when,” Brooke Belz town Savannah affiliate WSAV. 

Madison is back on dialysis after the donated kidney she received six years ago has gone bad. She’s hoping the public will see her story and she’ll find a match and get back to doing the things she loves like “going to the pool and going horseback riding.”

Brooke Belz said her daughter is “strong” and always “stays positive and happy” even during long stays at the hospital, but seeing her go through this again is hard.  

“It just breaks my heart,” Brooke Belz said. “It hurts me a lot to see her have to deal with this again.” 

An ideal donor for Madison needs to be fifty years or younger, live a healthy lifesty and have O+ blood type.  The Belz family hopes this next kidney will last Madison 30 years. 

If you or someone you know would like to explore organ donation for Madison, please fill out this survey. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Madison and the entire Belz family.