`MIRACLE' CHILD'S CHRISTMAS WISH : GIRL RETURNS HOME TO OPEN GIFTS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

When Kristen De Bondt came home after spending close to three months in the hospital, she knew exactly what she was ready for: Christmas.

The 4-year-old, who suffered from hemolytic urenic syndrome - a rare kidney disease - spent Dec. 25 in the hospital connected to tubes, undergoing surgery and on dialysis. Her parents brought presents to her hospital room, but she vowed that she wasn't going to open any of her gifts until she was back home.

``For a 4-year-old to think like that was amazing,'' said Kristen's mother, Julie De Bondt. ``So I saved most of her presents. I knew she would be home soon.''

Although at times Kristen's condition was listed as critical, three months later she returned to her Victorville home March 4 and found a bag of presents waiting.

``Just seeing her back home and happy, that was our Christmas,'' De Bondt said. ``Our spirit is still alive. We couldn't have asked for anything else.''

Julie De Bondt and her husband, Gary De Bondt, a nine-year sheriff's deputy, kept vigil at their daughter's hospital bed, taking turns sleeping, reading to her, playing videotapes and audiotapes - and praying.

Blood drives were held at the Lancaster and Santa Clarita sheriff's stations for the little girl. Dozens of Gary De Bondt's colleagues donated blood to help Kristen.

``We were just lucky we had a lot of support,'' Julie De Bondt said. ``Words can't describe how grateful we are. She wouldn't have made it without everyone's help and prayers.''

Hemolytic urenic syndrome is a rare kidney disorder that usually occurs in infancy. Its cause is unknown. While most patients are treated with dialysis, Kristen was atypical and needed more treatment.

It was during the first week of December that Kristen's symptoms were first noticed. She began wetting her bed and had a high fever.

At that time, doctors said she had a urinary tract infection and gave her antibiotics. Two days later, she began to have severe nose bleeds and the next day, she began throwing up blood.

``We didn't know what was going on,'' her mother said. ``She hadn't been sick like this before.''

She was admitted to Kaiser Hospital in Fontana the next day - her kidneys had started to shut down.

``We needed for her to be in intensive care,'' her mother said. ``Everything was getting worse and they were letting her deteriorate.''

After two weeks, she was transferred to Kaiser Sunset in Los Angeles. Eight hours after her arrival her kidneys completely shut down.

Her condition worsened: her brained swelled, she suffered two seizures, and had two strokes. The toddler underwent two surgeries and spent one day comatose.

``She's a miracle child to make it through that,'' Julie De Bondt said. ``They had almost given up hope. They didn't know what else to do.''

The next day, Kristen was transferred to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles at UCLA Medical Center where she was immediately placed on breathing machines. More symptoms, treatments and surgeries followed.

Her diagnosis was confirmed and plasma treatments began.

Then one day Kristen's condition began to change. Doctors realized she didn't need the dialysis to clear her blood. Her kidneys were working.

As part of her recovery, Kristen had to learn to walk again and every day her parents would take her for a walk around the hospital. ``We knew she was getting better when she wanted to walk,'' her mother said. ``She wanted to be out of the hospital.''

Now home with her parents and two siblings, a brother and a sister, Kristen says she never wants to go to the hospital again.

``They prick my arm too much,'' she said.

Although the disease has been removed from her body, she is still suffering from some of the symptoms including hypertension and swollen eyes. Every two weeks she must visit the doctor to make sure the disease does not return.

While the family doesn't know how Kristen became ill, they wonder if it was something she ate.

``It was just a nightmare,'' said Julie De Bondt. ``It was just a nightmare.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Deputy Gary De Bondt, his daughter, Kristen, 4, and his wife, Julie, are together again after Kristen beat a rare kidney disease.

(2--Color) Kristen De Bondt benefited from blood drives and prayers in her recovery.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News