It’s So Simple
January 20, 2010
When your kids are babies, you are always aware of the well baby visits, yearly physicals, and immunizations. When they get older, sometimes things slip. With 5 kids, we didn’t really have a yearly physical plan, just taking them in when camp forms or schools physicals were due. When Mackenzie brought home the school physical form for cheerleading tryouts, we thought – no big deal. We called the doctor to see when her last physical was. Wow, in the 5 years that we have lived here, she has never had a physical. Lots of sick visits, but no physical. They were able to work her in quickly and in we go. Since we hadn’t asked for her previous records, they were starting from scratch. Our pediatrician was great. “Don’t worry, we will just do a quick check on everything.” She did the usual and as an extra precaution, she drew blood and did a urinalysis. Forms were filled out, we said thank you, and she made the team. A couple of days later, they called back. They found microscopic blood in her urine. Could she come in for a repeat test. We had a discussion on technique and then we did a repeat. The second came back the same. It would be a while before we knew that there was really something wrong, but I have thought about that day often. Screening urine in kids is not usual. Many pediatricians may do it once in childhood, but not routinely. Guidelines don’t disagree. None of my other kids who had regular physicals were ever screened. Because Mackenzie was the one lost in the shuffle, she was screened. Because of the urine sample, her disease was caught. As much as I wish she did not have IgA nephropathy, I am so grateful that she was diagnosed young. The test that changed it all – a simple urine sample. Not hard, not invasive – just so simple. I have spoken to so many family and friends – ask for a urinalysis. If you can’t remember if your child has had one, just ask.
