Skyler Kress, 7, holds up his arm to show his intravenous tube at his home in Lodi. Kress has had medical conditions that have caused him to be in and out of hospitals for his entire life. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

'He just wants to be kind'

Lodi boy — who struggles with health issues — puts others before himself

Dressed in a blue T-shirt and striped shorts, seven-year-old Skyler Kress sat in the middle of his living room floor playing with pieces of a puzzle. He said he likes puzzles. He also likes sports. He would like to play soccer, or any other sport for that matter.

But his doctors won't let him. His mother, Trina Kress, said it is because of his health issues.

Since shortly after birth, Skyler's life has been filled with doctor's appointments and surgeries — five, to be exact. He has had countless ear infections, causing him to lose 70 percent of his hearing in his left ear and a complete loss of hearing in his right. He was also recently diagnosed with kidney failure. His doctors are baffled. They don't know what is wrong.

"Since birth, he has always had problems," said Trina Kress. "It has been one struggle after another."

It all started when he was two months old. He would get ear infections every couple of weeks. When Skyler was three, he was on antibiotics for 30 days straight. Then, they found he had a hole in his eardrum and wasn't able to talk.

His first surgery came in 2004. A tube was placed in his right ear and he also had his adenoids removed. Since then, he has had four surgeries, including a mastoidectomy — a removal of an infected bone in his ear.

A week later, the whole right side of his head swelled two times its normal size. Skyler was then rushed to the hospital and admitted for an abscess on the mastoid bone in his right ear. Trina said the pediatrician, and ear, nose and throat specialist were baffled by his case and were unable to do anything.

"When he told us he couldn't help us, my husband and I just looked at each other and said, 'What?'" she said.

He was then referred to the children's hospital in Oakland, where, after several tests, he was diagnosed with hydronephrosis, which is kidney damage.

Trina Kress and her husband were devastated by the news. Her husband, she said, is normally not emotional but he was moved to tears.

"We were there to find out about his ears," she said. "To think he's battling something more, has been hard. We never thought there was something else going on."

After eight hospitalizations this year alone, Trina Kress said this has been the worst year yet.

"We just keep hoping we're going to find some way to fix it," she said.

Overcoming the obstacle

Even though he has struggled all of his life, Skyler doesn't let it get him down. A boy who consistently puts others before himself, he makes friends easily and is well-liked by his teachers at Leroy Nichols School.

After waking up from a recent surgery, Skyler heard his baby brother crying. Trina Kress said he rolled over and said, "Is Spencer OK? Where is my brother?"

"He had just had surgery and was worried about his brother," said Trina Kress. "He would go to the end of the line to help other kids."

Tammy Hulme, whose son, Matthew, is a former classmate of Skyler's, describes Skyler as a big teddy bear.

Skyler has always been there for Matthew, who is autistic. While the two were in kindergarten together, if Matthew's behavior wasn't good, Skyler would take him by the shoulders and help him get his backpack. Autistic children don't show a lot of emotion, said Hulme, and so Skyler is not often shown much in return.

"He's a natural," said Hulme. "Skyler doesn't expect it. He just wants to be kind."

The two often play together at home. Skyler is one of two children chosen to help Matthew learn how to play with others. Hulme said Skyler is always right there to help instead of taking off.

"It's really hard when you have a child with disabilities, and when you have someone who helps, it just warms your heart," she said.

The struggle at home

All the illnesses have taken a toll on Skyler's schooling. He had to repeat kindergarten because he missed so much. Now in the first grade, he has already missed the first two weeks of school.

Trina Kress said while they were in Oakland, Hulme would mail him his homework and Skyler would work on it when he felt up to it.

Skyler has been taking antibiotics to treat his infections for about 90 percent of his life. Because his body has become immune to them, Trina Kress said they are limited now to how much can be used.

He has been placed on a home IV system and Trina said that is the only one now that works. Every eight hours Trina gives him an IV antibiotic as well as an oral antibiotic. For Skyler, it isn't a big deal. For Trina, it can sometimes be difficult. The hardest part, she said, is getting up in the middle of the night. It takes her 25 minutes to administer the medication.

"I've been tired but I know I have to do it," she said.

Administering medication can be risky, she said. Trying to remember the proper steps for safety in the middle of the night is not easy, she said. A blood clot could form. Air bubbles can form. An alcohol pad needs to be put on him between each step to prevent an infection in the blood.

A mother of three, Trina Kress said her focus is on Skyler about 90 percent of the time. Scheduling appointments. Checking his ear. Making sure there is no fever.

Trina said he gets sick fast and gets high fevers.

"He has a lot of pain but won't complain about it," she said. "I will have to ask him (if he's in pain)."

Trina Kress feels she doesn't have the time to care for her other children.

Relying on family and friends to care for the baby or take her oldest son to football practice has become an everyday part of life. If she has to run to the store, she has to wait until her husband gets home to care for Skyler.

The most difficult part for her was staying in Oakland by herself for 11 days. Skyler's infection had worsened and he had to be hospitalized.

Her husband stayed home with their oldest son. Her sister cared for the baby.

"Being alone took an emotional toll on me," she said.

Her family wonders how she does it. She said sometimes she feels like she is never going to make it another day. Trina Kress feels grateful for Hulme, her sister Natasha Chapman and friend, Jennifer McKeever. She said they have provided so much help to her.

Life in the days ahead

The future seems uncertain to Trina Kress. The hospital in Oakland has informed her they will no longer be searching for the causes of Skyler's poor health, but only a strategy for treatment. She said she is frustrated and doesn't want to settle. She is hoping to get a second opinion from UC Davis Medical Center. She fears Skyler will end up losing all of his hearing, and she is going to start looking for someone who can teach him sign language, just in case.

The most challenging part for her is not knowing if he's ever going to have a normal life. Not knowing if he's ever not going to be in pain. Not knowing what will happen in the end. She is scared.

"I used to think it would get better and he would grow out of it, but I don't know what's coming next with him," she said.

For Skyler, he hopes the future brings him the chance to play football and soccer. But for now, he enjoys hanging out and playing golf with his grandfather.

To help with the costs of hospitalizations, prescriptions and medical supplies, Skyler's family has set up an account for donations to be made at Mokelumne Credit Union, account number 608780.

A pizza night is also being held on Sept. 8 at Rick's Pizza. Those who present a flyer from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. will have one-third of their purchase made to benefit Skyler's hospital costs. To receive a flyer, visit S-Mart at 530 W. Lodi Ave.