ARDMORE, Ala. (WAFF) – A 9-year-old Ardmore boy has received a kidney transplant after waiting nearly a year for a donor.
Ruger Ennis was diagnosed with kidney failure in March 2025. On January 5, his mother Haley Schrimsher received the call they had been waiting for.
“It was very emotional to get the phone call,” Schrimsher said.
The family initially waited for a living donor, but as Ruger’s health declined, doctors placed him on the United Network for Organ Sharing list. Schrimsher pulled him out of school for virtual learning due to his health condition.
“I was stressing about how we were going to do all virtual, and then that night at 7:30, we got the call that we got the kidney,” she said.
The family immediately traveled to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Ruger said he felt “nervous and excited” before the procedure.
“He was dancing in the hospital, he was ready for it,” Schrimsher said.
Ruger underwent surgery on Jan. 6. After five hours, he received a new kidney from a 16-year-old donor who died in an ATV accident.
“The donor was a 16-year-old; we don’t know much else other than he was in an ATV accident, so we are always forever grateful for him and hopefully one day we can make connection with them to let them know how grateful we are,” Schrimsher said.
After spending eight days in the hospital, Ruger and his mother are now in isolation at the Ronald McDonald House for three months.
Ruger’s health has improved significantly since the transplant. He has gained 10 pounds in the past month and has increased energy levels.
“You can tell a huge difference in his energy, huge difference. He’s put on 10 pounds in a month,” Schrimsher said.
Ruger is now able to eat foods that were restricted during his illness, including his first post-transplant meal of Cheetos.
“They said feed him all the pizza, chocolate, and ice cream he’ll eat right now because his labs are still low, so he’s excited to eat the foods he didn’t get to eat when he was diagnosed,” Schrimsher said.
Ruger will need close monitoring for the next year due to the high risk of organ rejection during the first year after transplant.
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