Kidney disease is not just a statistic to me. It is something my family has lived through.
 

My mom was diagnosed with PKD in 2003 and spent years on dialysis before receiving a life changing transplant in January 2011. What makes that even more meaningful is that her transplant was part of a donor chain, and my dad gave up one of his kidneys so she could receive one. Watching both of them go through that, in different ways, showed me what strength, sacrifice, and love really look like.
 

Since then, both of my sisters have also been diagnosed. That was not easy news to hear. It brings a lot of worry about what their future could look like, and at the same time, a lot of respect for how strong they are. Seeing them carry that weight and keep moving forward is something I think about often.
 

This is bigger than a race for me. I run for my mom and everything she fought through. I run for my dad and the sacrifice he made without hesitation. I run for my sisters and everything that may lie ahead. And I run for every family that knows what it feels like to hear that diagnosis.
 

That is why I am proud to be running the New York City Marathon with Team Kidney, supporting the National Kidney Foundation and their work in research, education, and patient care.
 

If you are able to support, any donation truly means a lot. And if not, sharing this goes a long way.
 

Thank you for being part of this with me.