A math teacher in Colorado could not look the other way when he found out why one of his students would not come back to school anymore. So he took the student under his care and, in the process, helped the 13-year-old get a chance at life and at having a home.
Local station KDVR reported that Finn Lanning, a 7-8 grade math teacher from AXL Academy in Aurora, said his student Damien needed to “go back to live in the hospital.”
Kidney Disorder and Homeless
Early in life, Damien was diagnosed with a kidney disorder called FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis). According to the Mayo Clinic, it is a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure, where the only treatment options are dialysis or kidney transplantation.
According to KDVR, Damien’s condition requires dialysis for about 12 hours a day.
Damien was not eligible for a kidney transplant because he is homeless—since a young age, the 13-year-old has been in foster care, but because of his medical needs, having a lasting home has been a challenge, Lanning wrote on a GoFundMe page.
When Damien cannot find a foster carer, he has to live in the hospital alone. But during this time, he cannot attend school “due to hospital liability issues,” Lanning wrote. He added that Damien would have received a transplant long ago if he had had a consistent home.
“When you’re living in the hospital, you’re not able to be on the transplant list because folks who don’t have stable housing are considered high risk for their organ not to work,” he told KDVR.
A Chance at a Kidney
Lanning told KDVR he met Damien in August 2018, when the boy began attending school at AXL Academy, after he was able to temporarily move in with a relative.
“He is an excellent student and a kind, generous, and motivated human being,” Lanning wrote. “He excelled at school, and his mental and physical health improved.”
Lanning said that because of Damien’s health improvements, his medical team approved for Damien to go on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.
But things took a turn when Damien’s relative “had to make the difficult decision to return him to county custody,” Lanning wrote.
“Having a typical 13-year-old in your home can be a significant challenge for anyone, and Damien’s additional needs proved too much for his caregiver.”
In the following three to four months, which included the winter holidays, the boy had to stay at the hospital alone. He was also again removed from the transplant list because his housing situation had reverted to being unstable.
Unexpected Family
Lanning said that over the months when Damien was stuck at the hospital, he started to visit the hospital to give Damien his homework “and just hang out with him a little bit, keep him caught up in the classroom,” KDVR reported.
“And as I learned more about his story and what he was facing and what his needs were and why they weren’t being met, it just became really hard for me to look the other way.”
He offered to take Damien under his care. He provided Damien with his own room where they are staying.
The boy later told the news station that the two plan to stay together.
“Hoping for adoption, probably,” Damien said.
Damien’s name has also returned to the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and he hopes to have the transplant soon.
On Feb. 3, Lanning wrote to GoFundMe, explaining the situation of how he has been looking after the boy, and asking for some financial support as he tries to complete foster care certification.
“Over the last several months, I have taken much time off of work to be trained to care for his special medical and dietary needs, as much of this care occurs in the home,” Lanning wrote. “Until I am able to complete foster care certification (a 6 to 8-month process), his placement has been without financial support.”
KDVR reported that because Damien has a strict diet owing to his kidney condition, the food bill is $200-300 per week. The community has assisted with providing basics such as bedroom furniture.
Lanning explained on GoFundMe: “The initial expense of creating space for a special needs child in my home has been considerable. I am anticipating additional expenses (clothing, special dietary needs, increase in transportation costs for appointments, increased time off work, etc.) over the next several months until I am able to begin receiving financial assistance for his care.”
“I am committed to not being another adult that lets Damien down in his life,” Lanning said.
Lanning continues to post updates on Damien’s situation on the GoFundMe page, and has expressed gratitude for the support he has received so far.
