Editor’s Note — As part of our countdown to 2024, WYDaily is revisiting its most-read and favorite stories of the year. In choosing this story, reporter Megan Roche noted that one of her favorite parts of her job is helping others and shining a light on things that may otherwise not be talked about. By sharing Langdon’s story, she felt like she was able to contribute something to help him spread the word about needing a transplant.
WILLIAMSBURG — Eight-year-old Williamsburg resident Langdon Richardson is your typical boy. He loves his Playstation 5, cracking jokes, making people laugh, playing with his cousins, and playing baseball and soccer. But on the inside Langdon is very ill.
When Tiffany Richardson was 38 weeks pregnant with a high-risk status, doctors did an ultrasound and found that she had no amniotic fluid left and the baby had enlarged kidneys and liver. Richardson was sent to the hospital to be induced immediately.
When Langdon was born, he was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit for tests. Through test after test, doctors came to a diagnosis of Auto Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). ARPKD is a genetic disorder that causes fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys, making them larger than they should be.
Much of his life has been spent in and out of doctors appointments and hospital stays. At a recent appointment, the Richardson family went through two eight-hour test days to be considered for a spot on the transplant registry.
“His kidneys, while they are damaged, were functioning at 100% and he was on one or two medications at first. Now, his kidneys have been slowly declining over the years. His function is now at 30%. We’re not at dialysis yet, but his doctors looked at me a few months ago and suggested moving forward with the transplant,” Tiffany said.
Langdon wakes up every morning and takes seven pills before even starting his day. He struggles to get through the school day due to exhaustion and then he takes another round of pills before bed.
Langdon is very educated on the disease that he has and is very open to sharing about his condition.
“Langdon understands his disease more than I would expect of any eight-year-old. He is very involved in his doctor appointments. He is jumping in, answering questions, he knows his medications, the doses, when he takes them. At eight years old, I am really just there for emotional support. His understanding of his condition is just beyond what you would expect,” Tiffany said.
While Tiffany remains active on social media and searching for a donor, Langdon urged her to do more to bring awareness to his condition. During a recent visit to a movie theater, Langdon saw an advertisement for a man in need of a kidney. He grabbed hold of his mom and made her promise that she would get his picture up there so someone could help him.
After getting gifted a video shoot from a friend, Reagan Studios put together a short video for Langdon. In the video, viewers hear from Langdon himself about his condition.
The Richardson’s only child, the family is now actively searching for two living donors for Langdon. Donors must be Type O blood and under 45 years old. Anyone who meets the criteria can apply through the UVA Living Donation website.
According to Tiffany, there are two ways that the public can help: by sharing Langdon’s story on social media or by being a donor.
“We’re using whatever means we have to get the word out about Langdon’s condition. We’ve worked on social media, printed out flyers, word of mouth, video updates, anything we can do. If you hit that share button, it may stumble upon that one person who is willing to help Langdon,” she said.
Langdon’s family posts regularly on the Langdon’s ARPKD Journey Facebook page to keep everyone updated on his condition. A friend of the Richardson’s also created a one-stop shop page with links to the UVA Living Donor website and Langdon’s Children’s Organ Transplant Association page.
As Langdon waits for a transplant, Tiffany is amazed at how he lives his life with a positive attitude each day.
“His positivity is really inspiring. He inspires me, the fact that he can be so positive living with ARPKD. If he can be that positive, and that optimistic, and that hopeful, there’s not reason that I can’t be. He is my hero, he makes me a better person, just being his mom. I wish more people had the outlook on life that he has, because Langdon truly knows how special life is.”