Vanessa defied the odds...twice!
Vanessa Grisdale's connections to Sault Area Hospital (SAH) are deep. She is an active volunteer, she chairs the Renal Patient and Family Advisory Council, and she co-chaired the SAH Corporate Patient and Family Advisory Council. She is also a dialysis patient who has received care at SAH through two successful pregnancies!
Vanessa Grisdale's dialysis treatment started when she was only 16 years old. By 19, she had a double kidney transplant that, unfortunately, failed less than a year later. And by 20, she had begun hemodialysis three times a week at SAH with Dr. David Berry, Chief of Renal Medicine, and a Nephrologist (a doctor who specializes in the kidneys).
At a young age, Vanessa learned that having children would not likely be part of her future. Medical professionals explained that pregnancy while on dialysis is extremely rare and risky. In 2020, Vanessa began exploring the possibility of fostering a child.
When Dr. Berry found out Vanessa wanted to be a mother, he asked if she wanted to have her own child. She didn't think it was possible. But thanks to community support, SAH has the expertise, technology and partnerships to explore the impossible.
Dr. Berry connected Vanessa with Dr. Michelle Hladunewich, a Nephrologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre who specializes in kidney diseases and pregnancy. Dr. Hladunewich helps plan pregnancies and develops protocols for women on dialysis.
Vanessa immediately put her foster application on hold, and her pregnancy journey commenced. To carry to term, she would need intensive hemodialysis. 7 days a week, 5 hours a day, right in the height of COVID-19.
"We ramped up dialysis to seven times a week. Vanessa had ongoing visits with Dr. Hladunewich via Telehealth," said Dr. Berry. "Telemedicine allowed Vanessa to receive her dialysis treatment at SAH. It made a world of a difference."
In November 2021, a blood test confirmed Vanessa was pregnant! Although her pregnancy was high-risk, things progressed well. Over the next 32 weeks, the renal program and obstetrics team at SAH monitored Vanessa closely. She continued treatment with Dr. Hladunewich via Telehealth. She had regular check-ups, frequent lab work, and diagnostic testing.
Managing Vanessa's kidney disease and pregnancy required a close eye. "We made adjustments along the way. Her care needs changed often, and we had to be very flexible and adaptable to our approach. Her care included extensive involvement of many care providers, including dietitians, social workers, and nurses," says Dr. Berry. "We truly had a team-based approach to her care and the care of her baby."
At 32 weeks, baby Seth was born in April 2022. "We were thrilled to have a beautiful, healthy baby boy," said Vanessa. But shortly after Seth's arrival, Vanessa had another surprise! It was time to ramp up dialysis again, as Vanessa was pregnant with their second child.
Vanessa's care team followed a similar approach, closely monitoring her as she received dialysis 35 hours a week while caring for her newborn. "I couldn't do it without Ryan (her husband) and my family," said Vanessa.
Her second pregnancy also went well. Baby Trip was born in May 2023, at 32 weeks, like his brother. He was born premature and flown to London for a brief stay.
Vanessa returned to her regular dialysis schedule - 4 days a week for 3.5 hours. Today, she continues to work full-time, volunteers in the community, and raises her two boys. She calls the renal team at SAH her second family - and she means it.
"In the 20 years that I have practiced in Sault Ste. Marie, Vanessa's, is the first pregnancy we have seen with a hemodialysis patient. Even more remarkable is that she has had two healthy pregnancies. This is truly inspirational!" - Dr. David Berry, Chief of Renal Medicine.
Because of local support, SAH patients like Vanessa receive more than treatment - they have a chance to imagine a different future.
Advancements at SAH, like the investments in Telemedicine, are funded through community donations! Telemedicine is one of the reasons Vanessa was able to get care close to home, at SAH, while being monitored by specialists in Toronto.
This is in addition to core equipment donors have helped fund - like treatment chairs and beds for the Renal unit that kept Vanessa comfortable during her frequent visits, lab equipment that ran regular blood tests to monitor her condition, and the equipment used by the obstetrics team to monitor her pregnancies.
"Renal failure and dialysis bring many challenges, which means uncertainty in life. But one thing I am certain of is that my boys and I are cared for and loved. And for that, I am forever grateful," said Vanessa. "My boys are miracles, and they are my everything. I could not be prouder to be their mom."
Local support helps make sure people, like Vanessa, can get care close to home.
