Local teen receives life-changing kidney transplant

LEBANON, Ind. — After years of waiting, a local 15-year-old is celebrating a successful kidney transplant.

Friends, family and neighbors welcomed Aiden Blackburn home after a month-long stay at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

“Aiden is a wonderful kid,” said Megan Cobert, a family friend. “He has a really great sense of humor. His attitude throughout this whole journey through his kidney disease has been incredible. It’s inspiring.”

Five years and four months is how long Aiden waited for a new kidney. His stepfather says that is the longest Mayo Clinic has ever seen for a pediatric case.

“He’s already greatly appreciative,” said Ashton Dickinson, Aiden’s stepfather. “He actually gets to stay up all day now. He’s not tired and sleeping. He used to sleep 12-14 hours a day. He hasn’t taken a nap since February 23rd, so he’s getting to enjoy every day that he has.”

On Sunday night, Whitestown police escorted Aiden through his neighborhood where dozens of family, friends and neighbors lined the streets with music, balloons and colorful banners to welcome him home.

“The support from the neighborhood and the county is just unmatched,” Dickinson said. “We’ve been going through this for a while and it’s been there the whole time. Not one moment did we ever think we were doing this alone.”

Aiden will have blood draws every other day done at Riley Hospital for Children. The team at Mayo Clinic will look at the results and see if any medication needs to be changed or if he needs to come back.

In the meantime, Aiden will be enjoying building Lego creations and spending time with his family.