West Haven Father Receives Life-Saving Kidney Transplant: Report

WEST HAVEN, CT — After nine years of waiting, a West Haven father has received a life-saving kidney transplant, according to WTNH News 8.

Yannick Napier had been in a race against time and took his search for a new kidney public in August 2020 so he could see his “miracle baby” grow up.

Napier was born in Jamaica with a rare condition involving his urethral valves and wasn’t expected to live past 7 years old. He was first hospitalized at 5 days old with what was thought to be a urinary tract infection, according to a previous GoFundMe campaign. After spending the first three months of his life in the hospital, and after hundreds of tests, doctors finally diagnosed him with posterior urethral valve disease.

“Once I was diagnosed with posterior urethral valve disease my life became a battle against time,” Napier wrote in the post on GoFundMe.

Napier received the eagerly awaited call two months ago that a perfect match was found and after initially experiencing “breathtaking pain” after the surgery, the now 37-year-old father is busy chasing after his energetic son Marley, according to WTNH.

WTNH reports that with dialysis now behind them, Napier and his fiancé Katelyn Hickman are planning a June wedding.

Read the full report at WTNH News 8 here.