Crystal

I am now 33 years old and after losing my 2nd baby in the 2nd trimester, doctors began months of critical testing on me after my kidneys started to shut down. Five months later I was diagnosed with stage 2, borderline stage 3 kidney disease, Lupus Anticoagulant, neurological issues and a genetic liver disease. All diagnosed within a month of one another. Hypertension is the main cause behind this kidney diagnosis and life has done a 180 ever since.

My life has changed completely. I have fatigue, constant kidney infections and high levels of proteinuria have lead me to switch to Veganism, a healthier diet, fitness and lifestyle changes. When your organs are at high risk, you seemingly want nothing to do with your old habits. I stopped drinking and with my liver disease I am limited on what medications I can take because nothing is safe for my vital organs and I am at higher risk for organ failure.

The only thing that keeps me strong is my will to persevere! I will not let organ failure ruin a potential future!

I'm proud of myself for all that I have overcome during this fight. Being upset for one thing! With each new diagnosis you think, why me? I’m too young! Those thoughts and the many tears I shed were different and difficult to understand. I am most proud of my tenacity, my spirit.

It can be difficult to maintain a positive outlook on life. Life is too short! At any time, any one of us could lose it all and I never want to look back and think... why didn’t I do that, or why didn’t I spend more time with my loved ones and living in the moment. It is easy to get caught up in life, but we ALL need to take a step back and enjoy the moment!

As far as more awareness, as with any autoimmune disease, it can strike at any moment! It took me losing 2 babies for doctors to finally run sufficient testing. Even then, not all doctors are alike. I went through a tribe of terrible physicians before one took the time to read my numbers. Everyone needs to know their numbers and be tested annually! I am stage 2, almost 3 and I thank God all the time that my disease was caught early on!

Location: Tampa, Florida