WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Maryann Davis was just 10 years old when her mother noticed something troubling that would change the course of her life forever.

"Things were happening that couldn't be explained like my ankles were swollen," Davis said. "That was really for the first time that my mom noticed and she took me to the doctor."

What started as unexplained swelling led to a journey that has lasted 14 years. Doctors in Warner Robins had never encountered her condition, prompting a referral to specialists in Atlanta, where Davis received a life-altering diagnosis.

"Oh yeah, (it's scary), especially whenever you're told that 10 years old you're getting admitted into a hospital and you don't know why," Davis said.

The Atlanta specialists diagnosed Davis with nephrotic syndrome, a kidney

See Full Page