BEACHWOOD, OH (WOIO) –
17-year-old senior at Beachwood High School, Drake Smith, dreams of being an editor in television production, but the reality of that dream comes down to whether he gets a life-saving kidney transplant and how soon.
Drake, when healthy enough, shoots and edits concerts and football games in his spare time.
Two years ago Drake was diagnosed with Alports disease, an acute progressive kidney disease. It is found in only 1 in 50,000 newborns. In time, the disease will create eyesight and hearing loss, eventually leading to kidney failure. For treatment Drake does dialysis three times a week.
“It’s been pretty hard I guess for the past couple of years,” Drake said. “It has gotten to where it’s taking a toll on me emotionally and physically.”
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Article and Picture Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News
