When Kamri was diagnosed with stage 3b chronic kidney disease (CKD) just weeks after getting engaged, her new husband Lotanna didn't hesitate: he became her living kidney donor. Their story, shared by the National Kidney Foundation, reveals not just a medical triumph but a powerful lesson about breaking down barriers to transplantation in communities where these conversations rarely happen.

What Happened When Kidney Disease Struck a Young Couple?

Kamri's diagnosis came suddenly on a Sunday in late 2023. What started as a headache sent her to urgent care, where blood work revealed alarming numbers: her kidney function had dropped to 32%, her blood pressure was dangerously high, and her blood sugar was out of control. A nephrologist explained that her kidneys, damaged by diabetes she'd managed since age 11, were failing.

For months, Kamri tried to keep up with life. She married Lotanna in 2024, but the wedding day itself became a turning point. "My wedding was the best day of my life, but physically it was the worst I have ever felt," she recalled. Severe swelling, nausea, and fluid buildup made it impossible to wear her wedding shoes. By August 2024, she started dialysis, a treatment that removes waste and excess fluid from the blood when kidneys can no longer do so.

Lotanna, taking his wedding vows seriously, immediately volunteered to be tested as a donor. "For better or for worse," he said. "I would do whatever I could to help." Testing revealed he was a perfect match. In September 2025, both underwent surgery in adjacent hospital rooms. When they saw each other afterward, Kamri was overwhelmed: "He saved my life".

Why Are Conversations About Kidney Donation So Rare?

Kamri's experience working at two organ procurement organizations before her diagnosis gave her unique insight into transplantation. But she discovered that many people, especially in communities of color, harbor deep misconceptions about living donation. Some worried that doctors wouldn't try as hard to save a donor's life. Others were surprised that donors could return to normal living. "Even I thought that at first," Lotanna admitted, "but that's not true. Their job is always to save your life first and foremost".

The hesitation runs particularly deep in certain communities. "As a Nigerian, this isn't something we really talk about," Lotanna noted. "I didn't know anyone in my family who had gone through a living donation." Kamri emphasized the broader pattern: "The Black community is often one of those most in need of living donors, but we tend also to be the most hesitant about it".

To combat misinformation, Kamri and Lotanna threw a pre-transplant party that doubled as an education session. They walked family and friends through common myths and encouraged questions. The response showed just how hungry people are for honest information about a topic that feels taboo.

How to Start Conversations About Living Kidney Donation

• Share Your Story: Kamri and Lotanna found that personal narratives break through fear and misinformation far more effectively than statistics alone. When people hear from someone they know and trust, barriers begin to crumble.
• Address Myths Directly: Common concerns include whether donors can live normal lives afterward (they can) and whether doctors prioritize donor safety (they do, always). Naming these fears openly gives people permission to ask questions.
• Involve Your Community: Rather than having difficult conversations one-on-one, consider hosting a gathering where education and celebration happen together, making the topic feel less heavy and more hopeful.
• Connect With Peer Mentors: The National Kidney Foundation offers trained peer mentors who have lived experience with kidney transplants and can provide guidance tailored to your concerns and cultural background.

What Does Stage 3 Kidney Disease Actually Mean?

Understanding kidney disease staging helps people recognize when action is needed. Chronic kidney disease is divided into five stages based on a measurement called eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), which shows how well your kidneys filter waste. Stage 3, where Kamri was diagnosed, sits in the middle of the spectrum.

The stages break down as follows: Stage 1 means eGFR of 90 or higher with some kidney damage; Stage 2 shows mild loss of function with eGFR of 60 to 89; Stage 3 indicates moderate decline with eGFR of 30 to 59; Stage 4 shows severe loss with eGFR of 15 to 29; and Stage 5 means kidney failure with eGFR below 15.

Creatinine, a waste product muscles produce, is often the first number people see on lab reports. But creatinine alone doesn't tell the full story. Age, sex, muscle mass, and body size all affect what counts as high for an individual. That's why doctors calculate eGFR from creatinine rather than reading creatinine in isolation. For stage 3 kidney disease, creatinine is often modestly elevated but sometimes falls within the upper "normal" range, which is why eGFR provides the clearer picture.

Many people have no obvious symptoms in early stage 3, which makes routine testing crucial. As kidney function declines further, signs may emerge including swelling in legs, ankles, feet, or around the eyes; fatigue that rest doesn't fix; foamy or darker urine; muscle cramps; and difficulty concentrating.

What New Treatment Options Are Changing the Kidney Disease Landscape?

Beyond transplantation, new medications are offering hope for slowing kidney disease progression. Recent findings from the VISIONARY trial, a large-scale study of a drug called sibeprenlimab-szsi, showed remarkable results for people with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), a type of kidney disease where the immune system attacks the kidneys.

Over 24 months, patients receiving sibeprenlimab had their kidney function stabilized, meaning they lost essentially no kidney function over the two-year period. In contrast, patients receiving a placebo continued to lose kidney function at a rate of about 4.2 milliliters per minute per 1.73 square meters per year. The difference between the two groups was approximately 4.5 milliliters per minute per year.

"The fact that we're able to achieve the eGFR goal set forth by the KDIGO guidelines was quite remarkable. Additionally, I think it will be paradigm-changing for physicians treating IgAN patients and patients receiving therapies," explained Dana Rizk, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dana Rizk, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

What makes this achievement significant is that it meets treatment goals set by kidney disease experts. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend reducing kidney function loss to less than 1 milliliter per minute per year, which essentially restores the natural decline that occurs with aging. Sibeprenlimab achieved this goal while maintaining a favorable safety profile, with no deaths in the trial and only about 1% of participants discontinuing the drug due to side effects.

Dr. Rizk noted that while proteinuria reduction (lowering protein in urine) had been expected to predict kidney protection, the magnitude of kidney function preservation with sibeprenlimab exceeded expectations. "For the same degree of proteinuria reduction, different therapies have differential effects on GFR protection," he stated, suggesting that this drug offers something distinct in the treatment arsenal.

Dr. Rizk

Kamri and Lotanna's story, combined with advances in medical treatment, sends a clear message: kidney disease is no longer a path without hope. Whether through living donation, transplantation, or emerging medications, people now have more options than ever. But those options only work if people know about them and feel comfortable pursuing them. That's why Kamri's call to action matters: "We have to get more comfortable talking about this. These conversations save lives".