How did I get here?
Sister Margie & baby Lara
Volunteering Elizabeth St, Garden NYC
Sister Margie & Lara in NYC
eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) is a blood test that measures how well your kidneys filter waste, acting as a key indicator of kidney function. A result of 90 or higher is generally normal, while consistently low levels (below 60) for over 3 months may indicate chronic kidney disease.
I didn’t know my kidneys were in trouble for most of my life.
As a baby, I was very sick. I was thin, fragile, and in and out of surgery. Doctors worked to fix a pinched ureter and other complications. I spent long stretches on antibiotics, had frequent infections, and urine backed up into my kidneys. At the time, no one could say what it would mean later.
Then … nothing.
For decades, I lived a full, active life with no obvious warning signs.
That’s the thing about kidney disease. It’s quiet.
In 2008, at age 40, a doctor noticed something “off.” More tests followed. A biopsy at Mount Sinai confirmed it: FSGS, a rare, progressive kidney disease characterized by scarring in the kidney's filtering units (glomeruli), leading to proteinuria (protein in urine), edema, and potential kidney failure
For years, my numbers held steady. Doctors believed I might never need dialysis or a transplant.
Then in 2023, everything changed.
My kidney function began to fall. No clear reason. Just progression. By late 2025, it dropped sharply. That moment was terrifying. It seemed like the future suddenly felt much smaller.
Today, I’m living with about 15% (eGFR 15) kidney function, considered Stage 4 kidney disease and one number away from Stage 5, end stage.
I’m often tired. I get leg cramps. But I’m still showing up: working full time, exercising, caring for my rescue cats, and staying active with the support of friends, family, and an incredible medical team.
And now, I’m here, sharing this story, because a living kidney donor could change everything.
A transplant wouldn’t just save my life.It would give my life back to me.
If you’re curious, even a little, about what it means to donate a kidney, I invite you to keep reading … or take the first step to learn if you might be a match.
Sometimes, a quiet choice becomes a life-changing one.
Check to see if you could be a living kidney donor:
https://www.uclakidneydonor.org/
You’ll need: Lara Day | DOB: 6/27/1968
It's anonymous to me and noncommittal, they won't tell me you've applied.