Meet Dakota

On her first birthday, Dakota was lethargic, running a high fever and vomiting. As her condition worsened, she was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital where she was quickly admitted to intensive care. Doctors there discovered her kidneys had stopped working but they didn’t know why. When routine tests failed to offer answers, rapid whole genome sequencing was ordered.

Dakota's dad gives her a big kiss on her cheek
quote Genetic testing pretty much saved her life and we were able to start taking steps forward into her recovery. If we didn’t have that testing, she wouldn’t have gotten the diagnosis in time and she wouldn’t have lived.
— Taylor White, dad

A Life Transformed

Dakota was failing fast and she was put on a ventilator and dialysis. Doctors needed a clear explanation for her illness, but she was too sick to withstand a biopsy. Instead, rapid sequencing pinpointed the cause.
Baby Dakota with breathing tube

Intensive Care

At Rady Children’s Hospital, Dakota is found to be in severe kidney failure and admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Things looked dire until Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) was ordered.
12 months old
Mom snuggling baby Dakota in hospital room

Rapid Diagnosis

On day 3 in the intensive care, WGS reveals a de novo gene variation confirming she will not recover kidney function. Based on the precise diagnosis, Dakota is spared a kidney biopsy, her medication is changed, and planning begins for a kidney transplant

PICU
Day 3
Dakota smiling in a tutu

Successful Transplant

The molecular diagnosis expedited Dakota’s transplant which occurred a month before her second birthday. The transplant was a success and she had a rapid recovery, allowing Dakota and her parents to enjoy Christmas at home.

23 months old

Happy Toddler

Today, Dakota is a bubbly toddler who loves playing with musical instruments, family outings and eating cookies!

2 years old

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