Lyndsey Lamb shares her personal journey with CKD caused by IgA nephropathy, which led to a rapid health decline and dialysis in 2023. Facing immense challenges, her husband, Stephen, a US Marine, selflessly participated in a kidney voucher exchange program to enable her life-saving transplant in February 2024. Now fully recovered, Lyndsey reflects on resilience, love, and the transformative power of organ donation.
From US Marine, to husband, to kidney donor for his wife
After being diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, my journey took me from stage 3 kidney disease in May 2023 to peritoneal dialysis in October 2023. I was in desperate need of a kidney transplant. I was in and out of the hospital weekly, my results were not improving with dialysis, and I was truthfully struggling to be the mom and wife my family needed.
It was mind-blowing to realize the power my kidneys had over my body. My decline began to be noticed during a routine visit to the optometrist, who discovered severe swelling in my optic nerve, which was causing my vision to black out. This led to an emergency room visit, where imaging revealed swelling on my brain. To relieve the pressure, a spinal tap was performed to remove the fluid buildup, to ensure I would not lose my vision. I was then fortunate to be cared for by an exceptional neuro-ophthalmologist in Carlsbad, California. The ultimate solution was a surgery called Optic Nerve Sheath Fenestration (ONSF), performed the week of Thanksgiving 2023. The procedure was crucial to relieve the pressure on the optic nerve and preserve my vision. Recovery was rather painful, as the tiny sutures were placed in the creases of my eyelids.
Between May 2023 and November 2023, I received six blood transfusions, emergency port surgery for peritoneal dialysis, two spinal taps, a blood patch, three jugular vein catheterizations, and optic nerve sheath fenestration. The numerous hospital visits and surgeries really started to take a toll on both my physical health and mental well-being.
Throughout this challenging time, my husband Stephen Lamb (CWO3), who has served 18 years in the US Marine Corps, made yet another selfless sacrifice. Whilst he was not a direct match for me, he was approved through the voucher exchange program to “make the payment” for me to receive a kidney. Not only were the tests lengthy in making sure that he would be healthy enough to donate, there was also a lot of paperwork to BUMED (Bureau of Navy Medicine) for approval to allow him to donate his kidney in exchange for my transplant.
| I think my husband deserves recognition for his selfless donation to me, his wife of 13 years. | From boot camp graduation to multiple deployments, a solo birth, and two kids later, we have always been an unbreakable team. |
For him, the decision to donate was simple. For me, however, I could not help but worry about how everything would come together – with two small kids at home and both parents recovering from surgery. We rallied our family for support with the kids, and together, we made it all happen!
On Feb 13, 2024, his kidney was removed and I received my second chance at life at Sharp Memorial in San Diego, CA. Six months later, we are both fully recovered. He has been able to return to his active-duty status in the military and I am continuing my role as survivor, mom, wife, and warrior. Recently we moved across the country to Virginia and along the way, we stopped at various famous landmarks, one being the Grand Canyon. We both completed the Bright Angel Trail Resthouse Destination hike, which totaled an elevation drop of 5,490 ft. Kidney failure was only a small part of our story and we are looking forward to all the amazing things our family will accomplish in this new season of second life.
Disclaimer: The blog series is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to endorse or promote any specific drug, product, or brand. Each individual’s experience is unique and should not be construed as medical advice or a guarantee of similar results for others. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding your health and well-being.
