U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler’s “miracle baby” received a kidney transplant, the Congresswoman announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Abigail Beutler was born three months premature and without kidneys. She weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces. She was the first baby to survive Bilateral Renal Agenesis, commonly referred to as Potter’s sequence, or syndrome, Herrera Beutler said. Abigail’s survival of the often-fatal syndrome garnered national attention.
Daniel Beutler, the girl’s father and Herrera Beutler’s husband, was the kidney donor.
Herrera Beutler, 37, wrote that they were “smooth, no-drama procedures” and both Abigail, who is 2 years, 7 months old, and Dan, 34, are recovering.
“Of course, we are praying for a speedy course of recovery as we are anxious to bring everyone back home,” Herrera Beutler said. “We are told to expect Abigail to have a lot more energy and spunk, which is really hard to imagine because it doesn’t feel like she could possibly fit more vivacity into that little body.”
Herrera Beutler won’t be traveling to Washington, D.C., while her family is in the hospital recovering.
“I will communicate with my staff, monitor district residents’ priorities and weigh in with congressional leadership on their behalf. After that initial period, I will begin again to commute to and from D.C. for votes,” she said.
Earlier this month, Herrera Beutler announced she is expecting a son.
The couple had been waiting for Abigail to grow big enough to accommodate a kidney.
“Dan, Abigail and I are thrilled to finally be at this step. Dan really is my hero and Abigail’s champion. For the past two years, he has stepped out of law school in order to manage her nightly dialysis and daily medical needs,” Herrera Beutler wrote.
Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, is serving her third term in Congress. She recently co-sponsored a measure to create a nationwide network of providers to help medically complex children. She also is working on legislation to help parents “understand the limitations and benefits of prenatal screening provided during pregnancy.”
“Abigail appears to be perfectly positioned to receive this kidney, which we believe will last her for a very long time. That is a testament to God’s amazing blessing on her life — and to her father’s dedicated and loving care. His love and selflessness have allowed me to continue to do what we feel called to do — serve Southwest Washington in Congress,” Herrera Beutler said.
