A New Future for Rare Kidney Disease: One Teen's Journey with FSGS

Meet Joshua Albright. A happy and seemingly-healthy 17-year-old who had just graduated from high school, and on his way to college—his whole life ahead of him. By pure chance, Joshua and his mother had discovered he was in the midst of a high blood pressure crisis. Despite wanting to hang out with his friends, she sent Joshua straight to the ER.

What happens next is NephCure's hope for the future of everyone living with rare kidney disease:
Joshua was immediately diagnosed with a rare and rapidly progressive kidney disease: FSGS. With his doctor’s encouragement, he was able to quickly join a clinical trial studying a new potential treatment for his condition. “If it can help me, why not try,” he said.

Since joining the trial, Joshua’s kidney health has stabilized and he’s feeling better. His doctor—and all of us at NephCure—are hopeful that this medicine can help others as well.

We are likely only weeks away from one of the first-ever FDA-approved treatments for IgAN, a rare form of kidney disease. This same drug is also being studied in FSGS patients and could be approved as early as next year!

We are here because of you, our donors and supporters — thank you.

We have not crossed the finish line just yet, but in fact, entering the next phase of our fight. The new challenge we face: ensuring all patients can access these new and better treatments in time to save their kidneys.

To get these treatments into the hands of those who need them most — all while continuing to provide robust educational programming and support to help guide patients through their disease journey — we need your support now more than ever.

Can you help patients like Joshua, and ensure new medicines reach rare kidney disease patients in time to save their kidneys? Donate today at https://give.nephcure.org.

For more information and resources, visit https://nephcure.org.