When you love someone, you never imagine watching their world change overnight.

My name is Starr, and I have the privilege of loving my partner, Lya. Together, we’ve built our lives around hope, advocacy, and supporting others through their hardest moments. But nothing could have prepared us for how quickly our own lives would change.

Lya has lived with lupus since she was a teenager, but despite every challenge, she continued to dream, advocate, and create a community through Cryptic Wings. We always knew kidney disease was a possibility one day—but we never expected it to happen so suddenly.

Within what felt like the blink of an eye, we went from planning our future to learning that Lya’s kidneys had failed. Everything changed. Our routines, our finances, our home, our plans, and even the simplest parts of everyday life now revolve around dialysis treatments, doctor’s appointments, medications, lab work, and preparing for a kidney transplant.

I made the difficult decision to take leave from work so I could become Lya’s caregiver. She deserves someone by her side to help manage appointments, dialysis, medications, and the physical and emotional toll that kidney failure brings. While it was the right decision, it also meant our household income dropped significantly at a time when our expenses increased more than we could have imagined.

Now we’re facing another urgent hurdle.

To remain active on the kidney transplant waiting list, Lya must complete several medically required dental procedures. Any untreated dental infection can become dangerous after a transplant because of the medications that suppress the immune system. These surgeries aren’t optional—they’re a critical part of keeping her eligible to receive the life-saving call we’ve been praying for.

Over the next three months, Lya needs four oral surgeries, totaling approximately $2,000 after insurance. Every procedure completed brings her one step closer to staying active on the transplant list. Time matters. Delays could affect her transplant eligibility, and every day waiting for a kidney is precious.

In addition to these medical expenses, we’re struggling to keep up with everyday necessities. Between hospitalizations, dialysis, missed work, and caregiving responsibilities, we’re asking for help with:

* The cost of Lya’s four oral surgeries (approximately $2,000)

* Rent and housing expenses

* Groceries and household essentials

* Gas and transportation to dialysis, specialist appointments, testing, and surgeries

* Other unexpected medical costs that continue to arise throughout this journey

Asking for help is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. We have always tried to be the people who give back, who advocate for others, and who find hope even during difficult times. Today, we’re the ones who need our community.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing our story is just as meaningful. The more people who see it, the more hope we have of making it through this chapter and keeping Lya healthy enough for the kidney transplant she desperately needs.

Thank you for believing in us, standing beside us, and reminding us that we’re not walking this journey alone.

If you have any questions about Lya’s medical journey, transplant process, or how your support helps, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are grateful for every donation, every share, every prayer, and every kind word.

With love and gratitude,

Starr & Lya