When I was 28, I was diagnosed with Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome, a rare genetic mutation of the FLCN gene that can lead to kidney tumors and chronic kidney disease. 

Since 2018, I have undergone three separate "debulking" procedures. These were all open partial nephrectomies in order to take out the largest of the tumors. Each surgery has been more and more complicated and left less kidney tissue behind to keep my body running. After a few years of miraculous performance despite only about 30% of my kidneys remaining, my body finally gave in and I started dialysis in May 2023. 

In 2024, I found out that an old friend from college, Sasha, had been working behind the scenes to get herself evaluated as a potential donor. It turns out she was a great match and a great candidate, and she really made the process easy.

I had my remaining tumor-riddled and otherwise useless kidneys removed in September and October 2024, all in preparation for a transplant.

On January 21, 2025 the transplant procedure happened. So far everything seems to be working great!