In May of 2023, I was very suddenly diagnosed with Stage 5 Kidney Failure due to an Acute Kidney Injury. I had no indicators other than a persistent headache and my annual physical last year was completely normal. After extensive testing including Lupus, Diabetes, and genetic markers, there is no clear reason as to why my kidneys have so much damage within a short amount of time. Since then, I have been overwhelmed with doctors’ appointments as well as side effects to this chronic illness. Due to the buildup of toxins in my body, I am in a perpetual state of exhaustion and must monitor my vitals and diet daily to prevent further progression. There is only one cure for Kidney Failure at this stage and that is a transplant which I must qualify for. In addition to the appointments to monitor my health, I’ve had screenings, testing, and planning with a transplant program to (hopefully) receive a donor kidney. I’ve been managing this on top of working my full time job, caring for two dogs, and attempting to plan a wedding for May of 2024. There is only one cure for Kidney Failure at this stage and that is a transplant. This surgery, while routine, is very invasive and has a recovery period of 6-8 weeks for the recipient of the kidney (me). I have two incredibly selfless potential living donors that are going through the process to donate a kidney. One of these potential donors is my fiancé. His recovery is shorter but we would both potentially be out for 4 weeks. While we wait for a potential match, I had surgery on August 30th for a PD catheter and I am currently in training for PD Dialysis which would give me relief from the exhaustion. While this isn’t a cure, it is a bridge to my transplant hopefully in the near future.