My journey began back in November 2010, when I was just 9 years old and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. From the very beginning, I struggled to come to terms with the reality of living with such a life-changing condition.

During high school, things took a dark turn. I let the disease take control — and for a while, it won. My A1C levels (which reflect average blood sugar over time) were dangerously high, and I simply didn’t care. I was overwhelmed, both physically and emotionally, and reached a point where I felt like giving up. I couldn’t see the damage I was doing to myself or recognize the importance of managing my health. I ignored the voices trying to help me, convinced that diabetes had already taken too much.

But everything changed in college. With the support of my family and friends, I found the strength to turn things around. I decided I was done letting diabetes define me. Over the past few years, I’ve taken back control of my health — and my life.

Today, my diabetes is more managed than ever. My A1C is down to 5.5 — even lower than the prediabetic range — and I feel healthier than I’ve felt in years. It hasn’t been easy, but this transformation has shown me just how resilient I am. I’m finally in control, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

Fast forward to this past year — a chapter filled with challenges I never expected. I began experiencing recurring kidney infections and UTIs, each episode leading to acute kidney damage. Thankfully, my kidneys always bounced back to normal — until they didn’t.

In December 2024, I was hospitalized for eight days with severe illness from an unknown cause. Despite how sick I was, tests showed no direct link to my kidneys. Still, something felt off.

Then came March 2025. I went in for my routine labs, not expecting anything unusual. That afternoon, I received an urgent call: I needed to go to the ER. I finished my workday, walked into the hospital, and began a three-day stay that changed my life. After countless tests — EKGs, ultrasounds, biopsies — I was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure. Just like that, a new journey began.

My doctors laid out a plan. They estimated I had about a year before needing to worry about dialysis or reaching stage 5. At the time, my eGFR (a key kidney function lab) was 33. For context, a healthy eGFR is above 60. By June, my number dropped to 21. My doctor suspected dehydration, so we adjusted my medication, and I focused on staying as healthy as I could.

Then, in July 2025, everything shifted again. I went to the ER after a week of migraines, body aches, vomiting, and dehydration. My eGFR had dropped to 17... then 12... then 10. Fifteen is the threshold for stage 5 kidney failure.

Now, I’m navigating a whole new reality — a dialysis port in my chest, a schedule of treatments three times a week after work, and a wave of life-changing decisions I never thought I’d be facing at this age.

The most difficult part? There’s no clear answer as to why this is happening now. Doctors believe it stems from the years I struggled to manage my diabetes, particularly during my teens. If I could go back, I would. I wish I had listened to those who tried to help. I wish I could’ve seen the long-term impact of ignoring my health. But at the time, I didn’t think it would ever catch up to me. I never thought it would happen to me.

And yet, here I am. I can’t change the past — but I can learn from it. I can advocate, educate, and take ownership of the journey I’m on now. I’m not asking for pity — only understanding, forgiveness, and the strength to keep moving forward. My story isn’t over — it’s just entering a new chapter.