Hi, My name is Sonya, and my husband has been fighting stage 3 kidney disease since the summer of 2020.

My husband was very active when we lived in CA. He would hike or ride his bike up to 20 miles a day in the summer and ride his snowboard every day in the winter. We have 2 girls, a sophomore in college and a 6 year old, that are his life!

He got sick in December 2019, but we didn't know anything was wrong with his kidneys until June 2020, when his legs began to swell and wouldn't go down.

Initially, doctors thought it to be a circulation issue and started to prepare him for vascular surgery on his legs. More tests were run and determined his kidneys were failing, and the tests and treatments for kidney disease began.

From kidney and bone marrow biopsies to several blood draws, CT scans, Xrays, MRIs, a fistula placement in his arm, a few hospital stays and weekly trips to Ann Arbor, we still don't know what is causing his kidneys to fail.

Currently, he is receiving chemo treatments for what the doctors believe to be the cause. Cancerous cells in his bone marrow, producing toxic protein, which is attacking his kidneys.

Two weeks ago, his kidney function declined, classifying him with kidney failure instead of kidney disease.

After speaking with his Hematologist at the University of Michigan, she stated she is not seeing the results she had hoped for. She recommended seeking treatment at the Mayo Clinic, where a doctor specializes in his type of Kidney disease.

Every day my husband still wakes up and goes to work to provide the best he can for his family but as his kidney function worsens, it's becoming very difficult for him to continue doing so.

Because our insurance will only cover services in the State of MI, everything at the Mayo Clinic must be paid out of pocket. In addition to the medical services and tests, we will be traveling from Michigan to Minnesota, resulting in lost wages for time off and travel expenses.

We have exhausted all other possibilities before deciding to head to the Mayo Clinic. Their facility and doctors are our last chance to figure out what is wrong and, hopefully, find a solution so my husband can get back to a somewhat normal life for himself and our girls.

I ask if you are able to donate, no matter the amount, please do, and if not, please share as you never know who may be able and willing to help.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about his fight!