Jamie McCartney

In July 2022, what started as a routine blood test changed everything. Latarah's kidney function had suddenly dropped from 100% to 69%, leading to further testing and a biopsy. Latarah was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy (Berger Disease), a condition where a protein meant to protect the body instead builds up in the kidneys, causing damage and making it harder for them to filter waste. Over the following year, despite Latarah's specialist’s best efforts, her kidney function continued to decline. Just a year after diagnosis, she went into kidney failure. In August 2025, after becoming critically unwell, she was taken to hospital by ambulance and began dialysis. Dialysis has helped keep her here, but it hasn’t come without challenges. She lives with daily symptoms including severe migraines, constant nausea and vomiting, brain fog, exhaustion, painful cramps, loss of appetite, and dangerously high blood pressure. Latarah spends around 20 hours every week in dialysis and medical appointments. Latarah is currently training to move to home haemodialysis, which will allow her to be at home with my family during treatment. To make this possible, they need to renovate part of their home to safely accommodate the dialysis equipment. This journey has affected not only Latarah but her whole family. Latarah's children are witnessing things no child should have to. Everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning have become overwhelming. Latarah's partner has taken on so much—emotionally and physically—standing beside her through it all. There is no cure for IgA Nephropathy—only treatment. Dialysis is one step, but a kidney transplant is the hope. This month, Latarah will meet with the transplant team to determine my suitability. When the time comes, their family will need to relocate to Brisbane for at least six weeks for recovery. If a live donor is found, they can prepare. Otherwise, they may receive a call at any moment and need to leave immediately. Latarah is an incredibly dedicated and hardworking mum to two beautiful boys in primary school. She also gives so much of herself to the community as President of the school P&C. Now, she needs our support. We are raising funds to help set up a home dialysis space and to ease the financial burden of travel, accommodation, and potential relocation for a transplant. Your support will help bring treatment closer to home, reduce the strain on her family, and give them the ability to act quickly when the call for a transplant comes. Any support—big or small— would mean the world to Latarah and her family. Thank you for being part of this journey.