Hyde Talbot, 2, has been in and out of the hospital most of his young life.

In 2008, the Forsyth County child was diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, or AHUS, a rare, fatal hereditary autoimmune disease that requires lifelong treatment. Hyde's kidneys no longer function and his parents, Bill and Phyllis Talbot, must hook him to a dialysis machine every night.

Dialysis is not a permanent solution, Hyde's doctors say, and likely will be an option only for up to five years - if that long. Currently, the only way to treat his disease is a kidney-liver transplant, though that has a high mortality rate in children.

The Talbots, through personal research, have discovered a new possibility with a drug that may enable him to have a kidney transplant but keep his liver. But clinical trials for the drug, set to begin this month, will take 18 to 24 months.

The family hopes to keep Hyde functioning at a normal level until the medicine becomes available. In the meantime, Hyde has maintained a healthy weight and continues to grow. He lives the life of a 2-year-old boy, his days filled with baseball, church, bikes and play.