Young Youtuber documents his kidney transplant journey

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)  – Thursday is World Kidney Day, a global awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys, especially if there is something wrong.

Camden Cooprider, a central Indiana teen, is a 15-year-old struggling with a disease that affects his kidney, so much so he needed a transplant. He got one and the successful transplant happened this January at Riley Hosptial for Children at IU Health.

What’s unique about Cooprider, is he documented the experience on his Youtube channel. From his dialysis and up to transplant, all of it is on Youtube.  The channel started off as a fun way for him and his friends to try new things, fun games and challenges, but as he grew closer to his followers and friends over the channel, questions came up when people noticed his health issues.

Cooprider took that as a sign he needed to inform people about his condition and then started a series of videos on the channel called “What’s Wrong with Me?” He Spent 15 months on dialysis and had a catheter for five years. News 8 was there as he walked through Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health as he said goodbye to the nurses, hopefully, for the last time. 

“You have to mature up for this stuff,” said Cooprider. “Especially at a young age, you have to know your meds and stuff like that. I just want to spread awareness, if that makes sense, to show people what I go through and spread awareness so more people can open up about there lives maybe and share their story.” 

Something Cooprider also struggled with is his height. The problem with his kidney stunted his growth but now with the new kidney doctors say he is going to grow taller very quickly. Cooprider has since moved back home, he will go back to school in about a month.  Doctors say as long as he continues to take his medicine he should be healthy. 

To check out Cooprider’s Youtube page, click here.