6-month-old needs multimillion-dollar kidney transplant

Despite news that their twins Amir and Zahir were diagnosed with kidney issues, Annette Tobias and Lorenzo Williams were excited to welcome their boys into the world.

The twins were diagnosed with hydronephrosis, which is a swelling or enlargement of one or both kidneys due to urine being built-up inside the organ. On January 13, Amir and Zahir were born, bringing their parents great cheer. But their cheerfulness quickly turned into tragedy when Amir died two days later. To make matters worse, Zahir was born with only one kidney, so for months his parents were unable to take him to the family's Wellside Lane, Old Harbour, St Catherine, home.

At six months old, baby Zahir has done two surgeries, including a vesicostomy. This is a procedure in which a small opening is made in the lower abdomen, usually just below the belly button, to allow urine to drain out from a child's bladder. Zahir is also currently getting dialysis treatment at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). But the parents are seeking to get a kidney transplant for him overseas.

The Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, has accepted to assist Zahir upon payment. The hospital states that the admission could be more than US$500,000, which is approximately $77 million. Tobias, who works with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company and Williams who works at Jamalco, do not have the means to meet the hefty sum. They are under pressure as Zahir's condition is getting worse. He now weighs 5.5 kg, or a little more than 12 pounds, because he has been doing dialysis every two days.

"We need help, we won't be able to cover it in time even if we tried, and that's when we decided to create a GoFundMe," said Williams, who admitted that he has broken down many times.

"You see him mother, she strong. Mi tell her the other day seh mi neva know seh a so she strong," he said. When Zahir had to have a catheter inserted, Williams and Tobias were nervous.

"They told me they have never done the catheter surgery on a baby this small, that's why the ones they have are so big but they would try to cut it to fit. Dem even do the surgery inna the recovery room cause no space never deh inna the ICU," Williams told THE WEEKEND STAR while comforting a crying Zahir.

Anyone willing to assist baby Zahir to seek treatment can contact his mother Annette Tobias at (876) 576-9501 or his father Lorenzo Williams at (876) 540-1111, or contribute to the GoFundMe account, http://gofund.me/707f3dee