Bridget Luebbers

This time 21 years ago I had not yet been officially diagnosed and none of my nieces or nephews were even born yet! Most of the time, just addressing how I’m feeling, just saying it out loud helps. If you struggle to do so, I implore you to take a minute the next time you feel icky to sit with it. Let the sun shine upon your face… Watch that show you love for the gazillionth time… DO.

I returned home only to learn the next day that while I was having this magical weekend my beloved brother/twin/soulmate/bestie passed away. Stop life, stay home, and protect those we love by staying far away from them. Ugh… Between the state of the world, the unknowns of the future, and knowing that I will be turning 38 (an age my brother will never reach), this year is surreal. With all the changes happening around us, I’m just trying to hold onto today.

The point I’m trying to make is that kidney disease and the need for organ transplants are common enough health issues to be featured on a non-medical TV show. The funny thing is, while writing this post my boyfriend is bingeing the original show, Stargate SG-1, when… I’m typing away, not paying attention to the show when I hear “kidney transplant. This time one of the characters was going to be a living donor for a friend who needed a kidney. After my kidney transplants I was homebound for months while I recovered and developed some sort of immune system again–when you have an organ transplant you are BOMBARDED with tons of immune-suppressing medication so your body doesn’t reject the organ.

the organization dedicated to fighting and searching for a cure for FSGS & Nephrotic Syndrome* is hosting a FUNDRAISING WALK IN LOS ANGELES! With less than 50,000 people suffering from FSGS in the US alone it’s classified as a “rare disease”~ which are notoriously hard to raise money for. FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome aren’t exciting disease and pretty much NOBODY has heard of it. That makes raising $$ for RESEARCH to find a viable TREATMENT and CURE super difficult.