Five-year-old McKenzie Watson is undergoing chemotherapy to treat a rare condition that causes him to appear pregnant. McKenzie suffers from nephrotic syndrome, a disorder that leads to kidney leakage, resulting in the accumulation of fluid in his abdomen.
This condition causes the young schoolboy, who hails from Doncaster, significant pain as his face and belly become swollen due to the excess fluid. McKenzie’s mother, Antonia Watson, aged 26, has expressed the severity of her son’s condition, likening his swollen abdomen to her appearance just before giving birth.
Antonia shared her initial reaction, saying, “The first time it happened, we just thought he had put on weight over Christmas. He was massive, he looked as though he was nine months pregnant and about to pop.”
A five-year-old is having chemotherapy to cure him of a disorder that makes him look pregnant
Mckenzie Watson suffers from nephrotic syndrome, which causes his kidneys to leak
His leaking kidneys make his abdomen fill with fluid (pictured with his mother Antonia, 26)
Ms. Watson, who works as a dog groomer, described her son’s condition, saying, “When McKenzie has a relapse, his tummy really swells up. The first time it happened, we just thought he had put on weight over Christmas. But it kept getting bigger.”
She further recounted, “I took him swimming and realized how swollen he was. His swimming trunks didn’t fit, and his stomach was really, really bloated. It was so scary because his skin was so tight, and no one knew what was going on.”
She continued, “He was massive, he looked as though he was nine months pregnant and about to pop. His skin is even really hard as though it were a fully formed bump.”
The schoolboy is left in excruciating pain as his conditions make his face and belly swell up
His mother first noticed he was bloated when they went swimming and his trunks didn’t fit
Mckenzie was rushed to hospital where he stayed for 11 days before being diagnosed
“He receives daily chemotherapy. We rushed him to the hospital, where he stayed for 11 days, diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome. Now, he gets daily steroids to control kidney leakage and daily chemotherapy to suppress his immune system.
He has dietary restrictions and limited water intake. While stable, his symptoms can return quickly. They’ve occurred six times, and we know when a relapse is imminent based on his urination patterns. We’re raising funds for nephrotic syndrome research.
He is having chemotherapy to weaken his immune system (pictured with his father Andy)
Mckenzie is not allowed any salty food while he recovers and has to have his water rationed
Since January, he has been admitted to hospital three times and has suffered six relapses