This blog started as a project to process the journey that I am starting with my husband who was diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney disease at the age of 28 years old. He was otherwise completely healthy, and this has come as a complete shock to my family and his friends.
My hope is that this blog will provide hope, resources, and support for other families that are experiencing the same journey. Whether you’re starting at stage one or five, you are welcome in this space.
Last summer my husband was sick when we were on our summer vacation. He completely lost his voice and had symptoms that looked like Covid-19. I also got sick, but not on the level that he did. Fast forward to March 2025. My husband continued to be ill. He had symptoms of throwing up, nausea, headaches, and chaotic bowels (sorry if too much information – but this information could save a life!). He finally got his labs for the first time in his life only to get diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney disease/Failure. His GFR was 6 and we were told that his kidney’s were only functioning at 10%. We share two children together, and as many people my thoughts instantly went to them.
As we sat in the emergency room… being shuttled from one location to another without much empathy… we continued to try to process how much our lives might change. The medical team collected tons of blood and sent it off to try to figure out what could cause an otherwise healthy man in the prime of his life to go from healthy to kidney failure. So far, a week later, we still do not have any answers. All the labs have returned normal. His BUN, Creatine, and GFR continue to indicate that he is in kidney failure, but his electrolytes continue to hold steady. Which is a good thing but also confusing his medical team.
Our next step is a biopsy to try to figure out what is going on with his kidneys since all of the labs returned normal and his CT/Ultrasound looks normal.
I will be off work for a few months to help support him on this journey and to help him heal with love – hopefully. Our first PD class together will be next week. Our next step is biopsy and then dialysis and eventually a transplant. The site is named Kidney Soul because we always said that we were soul mates and now I may be giving him my kidney in the future. I will be changing my diet with him to support him and it is a huge psychological challenge to sort out the new foods that he can and cannot have, but here is to health! Health is wealth. ❤
Kidney Soul 