Kildare parents share Archie's battle against rare kidney disease

Kildare parents Shanice Murphy, 24, and Cormac Wall, 25, from Cavan town, endured a very stressful and challenging start to their life as new parents when their newborn was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease.

The Rathangan couple’s son, Archie, was born five weeks early in July 2024, weighing just 5 pounds 10 ounces. He spent a week in the special care baby unit at Cavan General Hospital before bringing him home.

“He was constantly crying, vomiting after every feed, and just never seemed to settle,” Shanice recalled. “Even as a new mum, I knew something was wrong.” 

In the first few weeks of life, Archie was brought to A&E by his parents where doctors suspected reflux or a hernia. Soon his condition was revealed to be quite serious and he was transferred to CHI Temple Street on September 2, where he was diagnosed with Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, a rare and complex kidney condition.

Archie then spent the next seven months as an inpatient at Temple Street, during which time he underwent multiple treatments, fought life-threatening infections including meningitis and sepsis, and more recently had one of his kidneys removed on March 13 of this year.

Two weeks later, at the end of March, he was finally discharged on the same weekend as Shanice’s birthday and Mother’s Day – a gift more special than anything she could have imagined.

“It was incredibly hard,” said Shanice. “I lived in the small hospital room with Archie because he couldn’t be alone. I slept in a chair by his side most nights. It was uncomfortable, but I got used to it.” 

Archie was re-admitted to Temple Street three times in April, spending another two weeks as an inpatient that month. 

However, at the beginning of Organ Donor Awareness Week 2025, Shanice gave a hopeful update: “We’ve had nearly four full weeks at home without any emergency trips back to Temple Street. It feels like having a new baby at home, he’s only just starting to live with us properly, and we absolutely love having him here.” 

Shanice and Cormac, who is originally from Cavan, live in Rathangan with Shanice’s parents to be closer to medical care and regular visits to Temple Street.

Shanice shared, Archie, will be 10 months old at the end of May, and is home and thriving, eating solids, gaining weight, sitting up, speeding around in his walker, and catching up on doing all the things any other baby his age would do.

Though doctors initially anticipated both kidneys would be removed before his first birthday, they are now holding off, hopeful that Archie can avoid dialysis until he is around two.

A transplant will be necessary, likely between the ages of five and six when he reaches a certain weight and height. His parents are hoping that one of them will be a suitable living donor kidney match for him.

Despite the challenges ahead, Shanice and Cormac are focusing on the present and cherishing every milestone.

“Archie been through so much, and he’s only just getting started,” said Shanice. “Archie’s name means genuine and brave. And he really has lived up to it. We’re so proud of him.” 

Shanice and Cormac hope that by sharing Archie’s journey, they can raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.

The Organ Donor Awareness Week 2025 campaign highlights a powerful national call to action “Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt”.

Organised by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) with support from the HSE’s Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI) office, the campaign shines a spotlight on the life-changing impact of organ donation for transplantation and the role that families play in ensuring that your wishes are carried out. More information can be found on www.ika.ie/donorweek/.