Living Big: My Story with Kidney Disease In my early twenties, my body gave out without warning. One minute, I was standing in my kitchen. The next, I was on the floor, frightened, half-conscious, and then rushed to the hospital. What followed were three long weeks of tests and uncertainty, until the doctors finally found the answer: IgA nephropathy, a chronic, autoimmune kidney disease where an IgA protein meant to protect instead attacks the kidneys, letting blood and protein leak into my sustem. At first, it was overwhelming.The disease brought pain—especially the deep, aching back pain of Loin Pain Hematuria Syndrome. It also brought a profound kind of exhaustion, fueled by anemia and low blood pressure. Ordinary sicknesses became bigger threats. Even something like the flu could land me in the hospital if I wasn't careful. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, my doctor warned me to take strict precautions. I spent almost two years completely out of public spaces—no grocery stores, no restaurants, no gatherings—until I had received multiple vaccinations. It was a lonely and challenging time. But it also taught me resilience I didn’t know I had. Living with IgA nephropathy means living with uncertainty. My disease could stay stable, or it could progress. I don’t have control over everything. But what I do have control over is how I choose to live. And I have chosen to live big. I fill my life with connections to friends, family, and spirituality. Yoga and mindful movement have become lifelines, keeping my body alive and my spirit grounded. I work with kids every day as a children's librarian, storytelling and building their early literacy skills. I have learned to listen to my body without letting it silence my dreams of researching and storytelling. I've found strength in connecting with others who face similar invisible battles. Each conversation reminds me: we are never as alone as we sometimes feel. Most of all, this journey has clarified my purpose. I know now, without question, that I want to be part of building a better world—especially for the next generation of girls. There are so many challenges waiting for them: physical illnesses, mental health struggles, grief, trauma, loneliness. I want them to know that none of these hardships erase their worth. I want them to know their voices matter, even when—especially when—life feels hard. I want to help them tell their stories, to celebrate both what makes them unique and what binds us all together in shared humanity. Kidney disease has shaped my path, but it has not dimmed it. It has taught me that strength is not the absence of pain, but the willingness to keep loving, moving, and dreaming even in the face of it. It has taught me that resilience is a quiet, daily choice. It has shown me how deeply we need each other—to listen, to lift each other up, to remind one another of the beauty and power we carry inside us. I believe the best way to honor the life I have is to live it fully—and to help others, especially young girls, believe in their own strength too. Because when we choose courage over fear, connection over isolation, and compassion over judgment, we don’t just heal ourselves—we give hope for the future.