When 5-year-old Mckenzie Watson's face and belly started to get fuller, his parents assumed he was packing on a few pounds, as sweets will do that. But then it got worse, and 11 days after he was rushed to the hospital, they found out what was really going on: Mckenzie's lungs were leaking, filling his abdomen with fluid. He was diagnosed with a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome.Mckenzie's mother, Antonia Watson, 26, from Doncaster, England, told the Daily Mail that, at his worst, her son looked "as though he was nine months pregnant and about to pop.""It was so scary because his skin was so tight, as though it were a fully formed bump," she said.According to the Mayo Clinic, nephrotic syndrome is usually caused by damage to small blood vessels in the kidneys that filter waste and excess water from your blood. As a result, too much protein is excreted and swelling occurs. Along with the inflammation in Mckenzie's face and stomach, it's common that such swelling can occur in the feet, ankles and legs. The American Kidney Fund states that, in children, nephrotic syndrome effects around 2 in every 10,000 and is most common among two to 6-year-olds. With blood thinners, other medications or chemotherapy, the disorder's symptoms are treatable, but there is no known cure.Watson said that worst of all, it causes Mckenzie excruciating pain. He was on an eight-week chemotherapy plan, which weakened his immune system in order to treat him."We have to give him steroids every day to stop his kidneys from leaking protein," Watson said at the time. "And now he's having to have a daily dose of chemotherapy to hopefully kill off his immune system to stop it attacking his kidneys."When he got home, Mckenzie needed to be monitored closely. He couldn't eat salty food and was only allowed a pint and a half of water each day. If his disorder isn't controlled, he can relapse. This has unfortunately occurred six times, as of Sept. 2017, and three of relapses required hospitalization. "We know when he's about to relapse too. If he doesn't go to the toilet for a long time, that's how we know," Watson said. "He starts swelling up because his body retains the water."While relapses are common, it's reported that, with the right treatment plan, nephrotic syndrome can be maintained and symptoms typically fade once children reach puberty.The family raised money on GoFundMe to help find a cure, and in only one month, reached its goal of $2,600.According to more recent social media posts, it appears the family is happy and healthy. Find out more about childhood nephrotic syndrome here.